Just as eating healthy foods is good for one's body, bad sleeping habits can lead to a toll on your body and overall health, according to Deborah Pedrik, sleep expert and founder of the Family Sleep Institute at Stamford, Conn.
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sleep is absolutely necessary to a person's well-being. The problem, however, is that surveys conducted by the NSF between 1999 through 2004 show there are at least 40 million Americans who suffer from more than 70 different sleep disorders. Furthermore, between 50% to 60% of adults report having sleep problems on average about a few nights a week.
Another problem we face in America is that most of these "sleep problems" people have, go undiagnosed and untreated. And over 40% of adults experience daytime sleepiness! Unfortunately, this feeling of falling asleep interfered with usual daily activities, minimally a few days each month
Environmental factors and behavioral factors can affect a persons sleep. Sleep with a comfortable pillow! Do not drink coffee in the evening!
Influences such as a noisy or too brightly lit room or one that is too hot or too cold are environmental factors that can be sort of a barrier to a good sleep. Disturbances or interruptions from other family members, for example children, can also interrupt or disrupt sleep.
The comfort and size of the bed, pillow, comforter, etc. and habits of your sleep partner are other influences that one should pay attention to. It will more than likely become your problem too if the person you sleep with snores, has difficulty sleeping, or has different sleep preferences!
Traveling, especially across several time zones, also disrupts sleep. This can upset your biological or "circadian" rhythms.
Things to stay away from so you can get good rest and sleep are drinking alcohol or caffeine during the evening or afternoon. Also, stay away from exercising close to bedtime. Following a scheduled morning and night are always good indicators you are on the right path of getting a good nights sleep. But working or doing other mentally intense activities before or right after getting into bed can disrupt sleep.
Stress in the number one cause of short term sleeping difficulties according to experts. Things such as school, work, family problems such as a marriage problem and a serious illness or death in the family. One good thing is that usually the sleep problem disappears when the stressful situation leaves or is no longer there. However, if there are underlying sleep problems or other sleep problems such as insomnia, they must be resolved otherwise if not managed properly from the start, they can continue long after the stress has passed.
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