Sleep Disorders

Most people consider sleep as the least important activity of the day, but for those who suffer from any kind of sleep disorder, it could affect their entire day. Sleep disorders range from inability to sleep or staying asleep (insomnia), to excessive sleepiness (hypersomnias), or problems sleeping on schedule and sometimes even disruptive behaviour while sleeping- like sleep walking and sleep terrors.

Sleep disorders can create problems like decreased work performance, memory lapses, stress, and sometimes can also be the cause of some occupational or traffic accidents. If you suffer from any of these disorders, you should seek help from your doctor before it's too late. There are a number of diagnostic methods, tests, and treatment that you could benefit from.

Ideally one should get around 7 to 8 hours of sleep every day for the body to feel rested. Here are some tips to help you sleep better:

• Have a comfortable sleeping environment which includes the right type of mattress and pillows
• Don't try to sleep immediately after eating dinner- a two hour gap is ideal
• Try sleeping and waking up at the same time every day
• Eat healthy and exercise regularly, but not too close to bedtime as it can sometimes have a negative effect on sleep
• Eat foods rich in tryptophan- like milk, banana, egg whites, peanuts, and sesame/till seeds, as these can help you sleep well
• Avoid drinking coffee and other caffeine-containing products close to bedtime
• Avoid resorting to alcohol and/or nicotine to help you fall asleep
• Try to relax before bedtime- so you can listen to some soothing music or read a book or try some meditation techniques

Keep in mind that sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.