A Sound Sleep

This article suggests ways to improve sleep.

Some people may feel like they never get enough sleep, just like never enough time in a day. Sleep is essential for the body, as during periods of sleep, the body will endeavour to rejuvenate, heal, and repair itself.

Women and older adults are most affected by insomnia. It has been found that mother’s are the family member that is most afflicted by past and current insomnia.

A persistent lack of sleep can have detrimental effects on your health. Insomnia or sleep disturbance can affect the body and mind in many ways. Alterations in the sleep wake cycle have been show to affect the immune system, digestive system, hormone secretions and physiological and psychological functions.

The brain is the organ that benefits the most from sleep. When a lack of sleep occurs the brain is deprived and functions start to slip. Memory, recall, behaviour, attention, concentration, speech and planning ahead are some of the skills that are compromised. A persistent lack of continued sleeplessness result in a seriously negative impact on health. Some studies have estimated that a continued lack of sleep can reduce your life expectancy.

The immune system is weakened with continued lack of sleep. It has been recorded that white blood cells within the body decrease, leading to increase risk of infection and exacerbating present chronic ailments.

Increasing weight maybe due to a lack of sleep. When deprived of sleep, the body is unable to breakdown sugars efficiently and this leads to sugars being converted to fats, hence you gain weight while your sleep.

Studies have found that individuals who have irregular work schedules have a higher risk of developing peptic ulcers. A gut protein known as TFF2, has been found to be most active between the hours of 4am-8am. During these hours the gut protein repairs and heals gut tissues. It’s activity increases when the body is inactive and asleep.

Certain medication can also cause sleeplessness, nightmares and other sleep disturbances. Some may include chemotherapeutic drugs, other prescription and over-the-counter medications such as: antidepressants, anti nausea medications, sedatives, antihistamines and sleeping pills.

Achieving a sound sleep.

• Make going to bed a routine, go to bed the same time every night this helps to establish natural body rhythms.
• Use your bed for sleeping. Do not associate your bed with other activities, such as watching television, reading suspense novels, working on your laptop or eating in bed.
• Avoid eating before going to bed, especially sugars and grains, this can disrupt your blood sugar balance through the night and may wake you up because of hunger.
• Avoid coffee – coffee this is a stimulant as is tea and will keep you awake. You should also avoid taking diet pills that contain caffeine and B complex supplements; both will increase energy and can prevent sleep.

  Massage for People with Cancer
  Indian Head Massage -Releasing Tension and Stress
  Meditation - fad, fiction or fact
  Shiatsu - Acupuncture without Needles?
  Reiki - a gentle form of healing
  The Common Cold - how simple herbs and food can help
  A Sound Sleep
  Back to Bach - the healing effect of Flower Remedies
  Maintaining emotional wellbeing, after a diagnosis of cancer
  My Personal Experience of Using Therapies United - by Lorna Jane Elliott (diagnosed with breast cancer October 2006)
  Slow Dance - Poem by a Teenager with cancer
  Tapping into latest method of healing by Sandra Dick - Evening News, Edinburgh
  Colour Therapy - by Agnes McCluskey
  How to Overcome Social Anxiety - by Piercarla Garusi
  How to Overcome SAD - by Agnes McCluskey