Getting quality sleep on a regular basis can help us manage our symptoms.  When we sleep, our body secrete hormones that help the body heal by repairing the wear and tear that has naturally occurred in our tissues during the day.  Quality sleep is especially important for people with chronic physical and mental health conditions because it helps the body and mind to recover.

Question: What are some ways to get a good night’s sleep?

Here are a few ideas:

• Go to bed at the same time every night
• Avoid caffeine for 4 hours before bedtime
• If you take diuretics for high blood pressure you may want to ask your provider about taking take these in the morning so you will not have to get up during the night to go to the bathroom.

People are now sleeping less than they did in the past, and sleep quality has decreased as well.  If you get to sleep okay, but find you wake and then have problems falling back to sleep, this may be caused by anxiety or depression. Sometimes you can fall back to sleep by keeping your mind off of your troubles. This is a time when you may want to try a distraction technique.

How can sleep help me?

• Get sick less often.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Lower your risk for serious health problems, like diabetes and heart disease.
• Reduce stress and improve your mood.
• Think more clearly and do better in school and at work.
• Get along better with people.

Along with nutrition and exercise, good sleep is one of the pillars of health.  You simply cannot achieve optimal health without taking care of your sleep.