38 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • JUNE 6, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Expert tips for a better night’s sleep
When was the last time you had a good
night’s sleep?
For many, sleep doesn’t come easy. Up
to 70 million Americans suff er from sleep
disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea,
insomnia, narcolepsy and restless legs syndrome.
Nights are spent staring at the
walls as insomnia takes control, or frequently
waking from snoring or gasping
for air due to untreated obstructive sleep
apnea. Fortunately, achieving the recommended
seven hours of healthy sleep and
managing a sleep disorder is possible with
help.
“Sleep should be a restorative experience,
but sleep disorders are notorious
for robbing us of that nightly pleasure,”
said Patti Van Landingham, chair of
the American Alliance for Healthy Sleep
(AAHS). “Whether recently diagnosed
with a sleep disorder, such as obstructive
sleep apnea, or just noticing warning
signs, such as snoring, choking during
sleep or fatigue and daytime sleepiness,
people need to seek support so that they
can experience the joy of sleep again.”
However, where do you start and what
resources are available? Th e AAHS, a
patient-focused membership organization
made up of health care providers
and patients with sleep disorders, shares
the following three tips to manage your
sleep better:
Talk to your doctor - As a society, we
oft en deprioritize sleep issues despite a
patient’s need to address a lack of sleep.
Many patients do not proactively talk to
their primary care physician about their
sleep during routine exams, mainly due
to a perceived high cost of treatment. By
asking the right questions or fi nding an
accredited sleep center for testing and
consultation, you’re one step closer to a
good night’s sleep. A sleep physician can
help outline a treatment strategy that can
last a lifetime, helping you take back control
and reduce the cycle of the frustration
of losing valuable sleep.
Connect with others - Another way to
improve quality of life if you suff er from
a sleep disorder is to identify a one-onone
peer support group. Mentorship provides
long-term support to patients who
are newly diagnosed by connecting them
to patients who have experience managing
their sleep disorders. Patient mentor
programs, such as the one off ered by
the AAHS, allow experienced patients to
share their stories and use their fi rsthand
experience to help guide others.
For example, a newly diagnosed narcolepsy
or sleep apnea patient is connected
with an individual who was diagnosed
with the same disorder at least two years
prior and is managing his or her sleep
disorder with an evidence-based treatment
option. Th e result is a support system
that off ers encouragement and a new
perspective on sleep at a peer level.
Stay up to date - It’s an exciting time in
the sleep fi eld, and advancements are on
the horizon. From new sleep monitoring
technology and more comfortable positive
airway pressure machines, researchers
continue to focus on new ways to provide
high-quality patient-centered care.
By joining together, patients and their
family members can learn more about
healthy sleep, access exclusive news
aff ecting the sleep community and ultimately
be a part of a collaborative discussion
that furthers the success of the
sleep disorders community. Together you
can advocate for increased and improved
care for patients and rally for more signifi
cant research funding to improve the
understanding and treatment of sleep disorders.
To learn more about improving your
life through healthy sleep, visit www.
sleepallies.org.
Courtesy BPT
6 reasons to add hydrotherapy to your self-care routine
Unwind, relax and rejuvenate - these
are the words associated with enjoying
a warm bath. Bathing is an indulgence
that has remained popular for centuries
and is especially important today as
you work to fi nd balance in a fast-paced
lifestyle.
Hydrotherapy provides the perfect solution
with innumerable benefi ts in selfcare,
wellness and general de-stressing.
Here are some of the main benefi ts:
Boost your immune system
Hydrotherapy helps increase blood
fl ow and the circulation of white blood
cells around the body. Th is assists your
immune system in collecting and removing
unwanted materials from the body,
which strengthens your immune system
to fi ght colds, the fl u and other illnesses.
Reduce tension and relieve pain
Th e weightlessness you experience in
water helps relieve tension in your arms,
legs and back, soothing aching muscles
and easing movement. Hydrotherapy also
stimulates endorphin release, which helps
relieve pain naturally and reduce muscle
soreness. It’s also a great way to recover
aft er a tough workout or a stressful day.
Many newer bathtubs feature pain-relieving
technology, like Kohler Heated
BubbleMassage, which produces a massaging
eff ect and consistently delivers
warm bubbles to slow down the cooling
process of the water.
Breathe easy and de-stress
Immersing yourself in warm water
helps open your chest, increasing your
lung capacity and oxygen intake. Your
heart beats faster and the steam from the
water clears your sinuses. Taking deep,
slow breaths calms your body and helps
you relax, relieving your mind and body
from stress. Steam from a hot bath also
works wonders for cold and fl u symptoms
like congestion and coughing. It gets the
blood vessels in your face and nose moving
and loosens any mucus blockage.
Balance your hormones
Hydrotherapy can be helpful for some
chronic conditions. Bathing in cooler
temperatures helps balance hormones
released by the pituitary gland while
warm water bathing can increase serotonin
levels, the brain chemical associated
with happiness and well-being.
Regulate your body
temperature
Th ere’s nothing better than stepping
into a warm tub on a cold winter day.
Alternatively, jumping into a pool of cool
water on a hot, sticky day is just as refreshing.
Adjust your bath temperature according
to the season to get your body temperature
back to a comfortable place.
Improve your sleep quality
For optimal sleep, many sleep experts
recommend setting your bedroom temperature
between 60 and 67 degrees
Fahrenheit. But a hot bath before bed
can yield similar results. At night, your
body temperature drops naturally to signal
the production of melatonin, the
sleeping hormone. Soaking in a warm
bath will raise your body temperature,
and exiting will more rapidly cool it
down, better preparing you for a good
night’s rest.
Enjoy these health and wellness benefi ts
by adding hydrotherapy to your self-care
routine. To learn more, visit Kohler.com.
Courtesy BPT
Multi Specialty Physical
Rehabilitation Center
95 East Merrick Road, Valley Stream, NY 11580
• Pain Management
• Internal Medicine
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Physical Therapy
SPINAL &
SPORTS
INJURIES,
ARTHRITIS, POST
SURGICAL &
MORE!
We accept most types of Insurance & Workers Compensation
Please call to make an appointment: 516-218-2225
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