Sleep is an essential part of your health and well-being. If you don’t get enough sleep you can feel irate, drained, impatient and unproductive. If you over-sleep, you can feel groggy, sluggish and, oddly enough, sleepy.
Not only does getting not enough sleep or too much sleep affect your emotional health, it can also upset your physical and mental health. It could lead to obesity, disease, and even premature death.
Some people pride themselves on only needing 4 hours of sleep, but for most people this is not nearly enough. The Mayo Clinic recommends between 7 and 8 hours of sleep every night for adults.
What 8 Hours of Sleep Can Do for You
Sleep isn’t just to rest your body. When you sleep, chemical signals are sent from your brain to your body to promote the production of hormones and compounds that help your body function. Some of these functions are:
· Managing hunger levels
· Maintaining the immune system
· Retaining memories
· Decreasing health risks
However, more is not necessarily better when it comes to sleep, because sleeping too much can counteract any benefits. Get on a regular sleep schedule that’s comfortable for you, and find the right balance that works for you.
Building Good Sleep Health
If you struggle with getting the appropriate amount of sleep, you aren’t alone. Below are some practices that you can use to train your body to sleep better:
Put Sleep on a Schedule: Set up a time that you go to bed every night and stick to it, even on the weekends. This creates a regular sleep-wake cycle, and it’ll make it easier for you to fall asleep and to wake up feeling well-rested.
Avoid Stimulants: Stay away from caffeine, chocolate, and nicotine before bedtime. Alcohol may make you feel sleepy, but it can bother your system during the night.
Exercise Regularly: Being physically active during the day can help you fall asleep more quickly at night. Exercise also promotes deeper, more restful sleep. However, don’t exercise too soon before you go to bed since this can leave you feeling too energized to sleep.
Relax: It may help you to relax your mind before going to bed. You may like reading, writing, meditation, or yoga.
Download Apps for Sleeping: Some apps can help you sleep better, using sounds, music, and meditation.
Who Can Help With My Sleep and Other Health Issues?
Sleep can help your body heal after a sickness or injury. But for further evaluation and treatment, come to see us at Patient Care Now Urgent Care in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. We are happy to take care of your health care needs, including prescription medicines and directives that can help you sleep.
We can also forward vaccination documentation to your primary care physician, school, or employer. We are open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Owned and operated by board-certified emergency medicine providers, we pride ourselves in providing a seamless medical experience to our patients. Call us at (267) 202-6433 for all your urgent care needs, or use our easy-to-use online check-in form now.
