SLEEP

Sleep Tips

• Consume less or no caffeine and avoid alcohol.
   

• Drink less fluid before going to sleep to avoid waking up to use the bathroom.
   

• Avoid heavy meals close to bedtime.
   

• Avoid nicotine.
   

• Exercise regularly, but do so in the daytime, preferably after noon.
   

• Try a relaxing routine, like soaking in hot water (a hot tub or bath) before bedtime.
   

• Establish a regular bedtime and wake up time schedule.
   

• Use your bed only for sleep not for watching television or playing video game.
   

• Only get into bed when you're tired.
   

• If you don't fall asleep within 15 minutes, get out of bed. When you're sleepy, go back to bed.
   

• While in bed, don't dwell on not sleeping or your anxiety will increase.
   

• Think relaxing thoughts: picture yourself soothed in a tub of hot water, or drifting to sleep, each muscle relaxed.

Sleep IQ Test (Follow this link) Sleep Foundation Publication

INTERACTIVE SLEEP QUIZZES! What's your Sleep IQ? Take this interactive test. How sleepy are you? Take the excessive daytime sleepiness test

Sleep Disorders

Sleepwalking
is when you walk or move around during sleep. Because most sleepwalkers don't sleepwalk very often, it usually doesn't become a serious problem. But some sleepwalkers move around almost every night, and they are at risk of getting hurt if they go into the kitchen where there are sharp items, for example, or if they go outside Sleep Information.

Sleep apnea
is a disorder that causes a person to stop breathing temporarily during sleep. Causes of apnea include enlarged adenoids (tissues located in the passage that connects the nose and throat) and tonsils and obesity. A person with sleep apnea may experience snoring, difficulty breathing, choking, and heavy sweating during sleep. Other symptoms include feeling extremely sleepy or irritable during the day.

Insomnia
is what happens when you have a lot of trouble falling asleep, especially when it happens often. The most common cause for insomnia is stress caused by a big change in routine, such as starting at a new school or moving. Chronic insomnia lasts more than a month and may be caused by problems such as depression.

Narcolepsy
(pronounced: nar-kuh-lep-see) is a sleep disorder in which the person has sleep "attacks" during the day during which she can't stay awake no matter how much sleep she has gotten the night before. Narcolepsy can be dangerous because people with it can fall asleep in dangerous situations, such as while driving a car.