54 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MARCH 2018 54 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2017 54 LONGISLANDPRESS.CO M • SEPTEMBER 201-----------TUTU111
Sleeping to tip-top health
By CHRISTA GANZ
Many Americans would agree
that the most enjoyable part of
their day is the moment their head
hits the pillow, when they can
recharge their batteries after a long,
exhausting day.
But for some, the promise to
relieve the stress of a hard day’s
work with a good night’s rest is
only a dream. A third of adults in
the United States get less than the
recommended seven to nine hours
of sleep per night, according to
the Centers for Disease Control.
For National Sleep Awareness
Month this March, it’s important to
recognize the effects of restlessness
on the body, and learn what to do
to get the most out of your night.
“It’s often hard to turn off the brain
from the day’s activities and try
to clear the head,” says Dr. David
Edelson, internist at HealthBridge
Sleep Medicine in Great Neck. “I
often recommend people learn to
do short meditation periods.”
That’s because stress can interfere
with a person’s ability to fall asleep.
Some of Dr. Edelson’s patients are
advised to use “Headspace,” an app
that assists with meditation to help
users clear their head and prepare
for a restful night’s sleep.
Disruptive sleep can lead to many
health risks, such as high blood
pressure and heart disease. Losing
sleep can be caused by many
factors, and anyone can experience
sleep disturbance differently.
Distractions can also keep a person
from falling asleep.
“Proper sleep hygiene is essentially
creating a sterile environment for
sleep,” says Edelson.
He recommends keeping the room
completely dark, noise kept to
a minimum, keeping electronic
devices powered off, and keeping
pets out of the room. Changing old
habits may be the simple solution
to falling asleep faster. If sleep
maintenance or staying asleep is
the problem, a sleep disorder may
need to be ruled out.
“Sleep apnea is a condition where
people actually stop
breathing for
periods of
time, or slow
down their
breathing to
the point where
their blood oxygen levels
drop,” says Edelson.
Due to recent advancements,
testing for sleep disorders
has become easier and more
comfortable than before, allowing
people to stay in the comfort
of their own home. Those
experiencing loss of sleep should
consult a sleep physician to
determine the cause and map out
their treatment options.
PRESS HEALTH
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