Healthy Enviroment for Restful Sleep

Bright lights, loud noises, uncomfortable temperatures … these and other factors can lead to disrupted sleep. The following tips can help you to help create an environment that is calming, relaxing and soothing - one that encourages quality rest and sleep.


Check your bed. Is it comfortable? Lie down on it during the day, when you are not tired, and see how it feels. A bed that is too soft, too firm or that sags in the middle can impede your sleep. You can fix a too-firm bed with top padding, but a bed that is too soft or sagging should be replaced. It may seem expensive, but considering that you spend about 1/3 of your life on your bed - not to mention how quality of sleep affects your waking hours - a comfortable bed is worth the price.

• And Your Pillows. Like your bed, too soft or too firm pillows can affect your quality of sleep (as can the number of pillows you use). Experiment with different pillow types until you find ones that work best for you. If you suffer from allergies, consider hypoallergenic pillow.


• Look at Your Surroundings. Dr. Weil encourages a clutter-free home, which can help create a calm environment. Clean out anything you do not need in your bedroom, such as televisions, computers, stacks of papers, and knick-knacks, making the room’s sole purposes sleep and intimacy.

• Light and Sound. Excessive light and noise can impede quality sleep. To help block bright light, consider opaque window shades. If you have skylights, position your bed so your face is not directly in sunlight in the morning. For loud noises, consider inexpensive earplugs to block out sound or a "white noise" machine.

• Ideal Temperatures. Regulate the temperature in your bedroom so it is not too hot or too cold. Many people find that an ideal temperature is around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but this depends on many factors including sleepwear preference, how many blankets you use, and your metabolism. Experiment to find the right temperature. If you and your partner disagree, compromise on a temperature midway between your respective comfort zones.

• Set the Scene. What promotes relaxation for you? Soft, lulling music, complete darkness, candlelight, a good book before bed… all can encourage relaxation and rest. Determine what helps promote a relaxed state and incorporate those elements into your nighttime routine and bedroom.

Sleep Apnea ~ Stroke ~ Stay Aware` Healthy & Fit

Even Mild Sleep Apnea Raises Stroke Risk in Men

Risk may stem from cumulative effect over many years, study suggests Even Mild Sleep Apnea Raises Stroke Risk in Men !

Last updated: April 08, 2010

THURSDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- The nighttime breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea more than doubles the risk for stroke in men who are middle age and beyond, new research has found.


U.S. researchers looked at more than 5,400 people, age 40 and older and with no history of stroke, who were participating in the Sleep Heart Health Study. The participants underwent a standard at-home sleep test at the start of the study to determine if they had sleep apnea and, if so, the severity of the condition.


During the next nine years, 193 participants had a stroke -- 85 of the 2,462 men and 108 of the 2,960 women. A greater risk for stroke was noted in men with mild sleep apnea, rising with the severity of the apnea. Men with moderate to severe sleep apnea were nearly three times more likely to suffer a stroke than were those without sleep apnea or with mild sleep apnea.
In women, only severe levels of apnea were associated with increased risk for stroke.
The difference found between men and women may be because men are more likely to develop sleep apnea at a younger age, which means they tend to have untreated apnea for a longer time, the researchers explained.
"It's possible that the stroke risk is related to cumulative effects of sleep apnea adversely influencing health over many years," the study's lead author, Dr. Susan Redline, a professor of medicine, pediatrics, epidemiology and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, said in a news release from the American Thoracic Society.


The findings were released online April 8 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
"Our findings provide compelling evidence that obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor for stroke, especially in men," Redline said. "Overall, the increased risk of stroke in men with sleep apnea is comparable to adding 10 years to a man's age. Importantly, we found that increased stroke risk in men occurs even with relatively mild levels of sleep apnea."


The next step is to determine if treating sleep apnea reduces the risk for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, she added.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about stroke risk factors.
SOURCE: American Thoracic Society, news release, April 8, 2010