Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts

Friday, March 11, 2016

Health Briefs TV Lays Down Tips for Beating Insomnia

Most people will have some restless nights of sleep. Some people will have full nights of not being able to sleep at all. Insomnia can affect anyone at any time.  It can be frustrating, and even more so when rest is needed. Health Briefs TV lays down tips for beating insomnia.

We want to note that this article is intended for people who have occasional nights of sleeplessness, not those who cannot get to sleep all the time.

There are nights when our bodies are exhausted and our eyes are tired, but we just can’t seem to fall asleep. It sure can be aggravating to not be able to relax, shut our eyes and drift into a restful night of sleep. The night becomes long as we watch the hours slowly tick by on the bedside clock. Here are some ideas which may help (and we are going to try them).

Get out of bed and walk around. A change of scenery might do some good. Go into another room, read something light.  The bed is a piece of furniture that is meant for sleep. If it’s not providing it, walk away for a little while.

Add some exercise into the daily routine. A good, brisk walk after dinner not only aids digestion, but it stretches muscles and eases bone stiffness. Try to add some form of moderate exercise into everyday living.

If there is another bed in the home not being used, Health Briefs TV suggests getting in it to sleep. Maybe it’s just the first bed that is causing sleepless nights. If this fails too, ask the doctor about what do to get a good night’s rest. Pleasant dreams.


(image:flickr)

Friday, February 12, 2016

The Health Briefs TV Show Wants You to Get Some Rest

Are you tired? Not getting enough sleep? Does your mind keep you awake running thoughts through it a breakneck speed? The Health Briefs TV show wants you to get some rest.

We know how hard it can be to fall asleep and stay asleep sometimes. It is equally hard to function at your best when you are tired. Here’s what you need to know to get some needed sleep:

  • A healthy meal of high protein and high fiber foods helps people get to sleep and stay asleep better than a meal with high saturated fats and less fiber. Avoid fatty foods at dinner time. Enjoy some peas, black beans, lentils, broccoli, raspberries, blueberries, avocado and other food like it. Skip caffeinated drinks several hours before bedtime.
  • Avoid getting into an argument or heated discussion with someone – both in the physical sense and online.
  • Take a walk after dinner to relieve stress and relax and loosen muscles and joints.
  • Lower the blinds and the room temperature for a comfortable sleep.
  • Get in bed, turn the TV and lights off and get comfortable.
  • Think of something happy or positive. Close your eyes and relax thinking of the happy or positive thing. Replay in your mind what made it happy.
  • Take conscious breaths. As you breathe slowly, imagine your breath as it enters your nose and mouth, makes its way through your body and goes back out. Focus on each breath and each step. This helps block and stop negative or repetitive thoughts which can keep you awake.
  • Health Briefs TV suggests sticking to a regular schedule of when you go to bed and get up every day, even on weekends and vacations.
We admit we do not get enough sleep ourselves. 





Friday, January 8, 2016

Health Briefs TV Reviews Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep

There is a great deal of information in the news about the lack of sleep Americans get. A leading consumer magazine’s cover reports on several issues regarding a poor night’s rest, and an American news network reports on the why we are not getting the rest we need. Health Briefs TV reviews tips for a good night’s sleep.

Anyone who has trouble falling asleep and staying asleep can attest to how frustrating it is to be wide awake at 3 AM.  The National Center for Health Statistics found that a third of us do not get the recommended seven hours of shut eye we need to fully function the next day. Lack of rest can add up to some major health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, weakened immune systems and may contribute to dementia.

In order to get a decent amount of rest at night, the Health Briefs TV show offers some tips to getting a sound sleep:

  • Close the curtains or blinds to block out any light and lower the room temperature.
  • Leave digital devices far from the bedside.
  • Avoid taking sleeping aids unless prescribed by a doctor. Most really don’t work as advertised and can cause adverse effects, such as sleep walking.
  • Shop for a new pillow and buy one that supports the main position in which you sleep.
  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. It is very difficult to set a regular sleep routine when you go to bed and wake at different times on different days.
  • Wear something comfortable to sleep in.


When we get a good night’s rest, our brains clear out all the negative from the day before. Our hearts slow down and rest too. Our blood vessels relax and our blood sugar goes down. We also can fully function the next day, which includes no drowsy driving to work. We need seven hours of rest.  Get some. 


Friday, July 31, 2015

Health Briefs TV Reviews Sleep Deficiency in Children and Teens



A good night’s rest is needed by everyone and more so for children and teens. But getting enough sleep is usually not the case for America’s kids. Health Briefs TV reviews the causes and solutions in sleep deficiency.

Many parents let their children go to bed later than normal and sleep later than they should. Kids should be getting 10 to 11 hours of rest per night, but are falling short at sleeping for less than 9 hours. Lack of sleep can cause behavior problems, learning problems, eating problems and overall poor health. When children are tired in school they are not learning as well as they could be. Children from ages six to 12 who go to bed after 9 PM take longer to fall asleep, wake up more often during the night, and therefore, get less rest.  Teens also need to get enough rest.

Recommendations by health professionals suggest:
Insisting children and teenagers go to bed at the same time every night and rise at the same time every morning.
Leave digital devices in another room so to not distract from a restful sleep.
Reduce any caffeinated beverages two hours before bedtime.
Be sure homework and after school activities are completed and over early in the evening so kids are forced to study into regular bedtimes.
Health Briefs TV recommends adults set a good example for children of all ages by following the same guidelines.

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Friday, June 26, 2015

Health Briefs TV Offers Advice on Getting More Sleep



Sleep is something everyone needs to be at their best every day. Often, we do not get enough of it for several reasons. Health Briefs TV shares advice on how to get more sleep.

The thoughts that run through our minds every night as we try to fall asleep can keep us awake for hours on end. Sleep deprivation can then occur. Lack of a sound sleep can result in errors made at work, vehicle accidents and worse. What’s keeping us up all night? Financial worries are the first and foremost reason we cannot get enough shut eye. More than two-thirds of Americans report worrying about one or more money problems such as lack of retirement savings, healthcare/insurance bills or mortgage/rent.  Creditcards.com, a financial comparison website, recently conducted a survey and learned that fretting about lack of funds saved for retirement and credit card debt are foremost on our minds as we hit the sack.

So how can we get needed rest every night with these troubling thoughts running wild in our minds?
  • Turn off all digital devices or leave them in another room when going to bed.
  • Don’t watch TV an hour before bedtime. 
  • If financial worries arise, write them down on paper with a possible solution.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol before bed also. It may be make us sleepier, but it can also escalate thoughts of despair.
Health Briefs TV encourages readers to banish unpleasant and worrisome thoughts before bed. Find the best way to get the most sleep every night.


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Monday, May 18, 2015

Health Briefs TV Explains How Sleep Prevents Strokes



People with high blood pressure are more likely to have a stroke than those who do not have high blood pressure, depending on how much sleep they get, Health Briefs TV learns.

Those who get less than five hours of sleep per night or more than eight hours of sleep are at risk of having a stroke, a new study found. Researchers found that insufficient sleepers had an 83 percents higher risk of stoke than those who got seven or eight hours of sleep. People who slept more than eight hours per night had an increases risk of 74%.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 800,000 people each year in the United States have a stroke. It is also the leading cause of disability in the United States. The most common type of stroke is caused by a blood clot in the brain. The other main cause is when a blood vessel bursts.

Health Briefs TV suggests the following to get a good night’s rest of seven to eight hours:
  • Avoid alcohol or smoking or eating a heavy meal three hours before bedtime.
  • Leave digital devices in another room.
  • Be sure the room is cool and dark.
  • Get some daily physical activity. Take a short, brisk walk after dinner to help digest food.
  • Maintain the same sleep and wake schedule every day, even on weekends.


Sleep well.

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Friday, April 17, 2015

Health Briefs TV Touts the Benefits of Regular, Moderate Exercise





Some people turn a deaf ear when they hear the word exercise.  They think long, hard, sweaty periods of time in the gym working out.  Health Briefs TV reminds readers that even moderate physical activity is beneficial for everyone.

Regular, moderate exercise, such as a 20 minute walk around the block aids in staying healthy and living longer.  Walking is a relaxing activity which can offer the walker time alone to think while giving the heart a mini workout. Riding a bike is also a pleasant form of exercise. One covers more ground on a bike and gains the health benefits from it. It boosts vim and vigor.  Moderate physical activity also raises the heart rate which pumps more blood and oxygen throughout the body. This in turn, helps us feel more alive. It stimulates the brain which keeps our mental faculties alert.

Our skin becomes more elastic and softer which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles.  It gives us flexibility which we all need the older we become.  It improves posture so we are not so slumped over in age.  Moderate exercise makes us feel stronger and more capable of handling the harder aspects of live. It boosts mood too. We could all use a little mood boost every now and then.  The Health Briefs TV show also testifies that a little moderate exercise every week helps us sleep more soundly. And a good night’s rest is one of the best health benefits everyone needs. 

Head outside if the weather permits and enjoy a short walk. Take in the sights. Soak in the sunshine. Feel alive and healthier.

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Monday, March 16, 2015

Health Briefs TV Checks into the Sleep Business



Sleep. It can be elusive, fleeting, abundant, and is often interrupted.  And it is can also be big business. Health Briefs TV take a peek at the sleep business.

Did you get a good night’s rest? How many full hours of sleep did you get? Was your sleep interrupted by children, pets or smart phones buzzing with the arrival of incoming messages? These are all things that can interrupt and disrupt sleep every night. For insomniacs, this can be a rest killer.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that up to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. We spend extraordinary amounts of money on new mattresses, pillows, sleep aids, and even sleep spas to determine what’s keeping us from decent rest.  Sleep-related products are a $32 billion dollar industry, and include an incredible amount of products and remedies to help the sleep-deprived close their eyes and rest soundly.  The Health Briefs TV show counters that there are better ways to ease into sleep and rest well, and are free. Exercise, even moderate exercise such as a good after dinner walk, can be relaxing and help you distress to sleep better. Hit the sack at the same time every night. Turn the TV off and move smart phone and other digital devices away from bed side tables. A shower right before bed helps wash away stress and can ease you into a restful state.  

Sleep is big business because people spend a great deal of money to get the elusive rest they need. Always try the free ways first, though, and put that money someplace else. Like into a vacation.



Friday, November 7, 2014

Health Briefs TV Reports on Sleep Confusion





Have you ever been awakened to the alarm and didn’t know where you were? HealthBriefs TV reports on confusion arousal.

Confusional arousal happened when a person wakes up and stays in a confused state for a certain period of time before going back to sleep or fully waking up. According to the National Institutes of Health, this state of being happens when someone is awakened during non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – which is a deeper sleep. Someone is awakened by something suddenly like an alarm clock. One in seven people have experienced this sleep “drunkenness”.

The Health Briefs TV show learns that most of us have experienced this state of mind at some point. In a recent study, participants noted that their confused state lasted between five minutes to 15 minutes. It is also important to note that some people can wake up in a violent mood and cause harm. Those in professions who can catch naps during the work schedule, such as health professionals, should allow at least 15 minutes to fully awaken before going back to work. It’s always a smart idea to not drive if awakened suddenly and still be in a state of sleep confusion. Give yourself time to become fully awake and be totally aware of surroundings.




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Friday, August 22, 2014

Health Briefs Reviews Why Older People Need More Sleep





Lack of sleep can bring some unwelcome health problems. It can increase the chance of becoming obese, cause one to become depressed and can even result in the loss of brain cells. These are some of the reasons Health Briefs believes older people need more sleep.

There are several ways the elderly can get more rest at night. Swap an older mattress for a new one, reduce the amount of light coming into the bedroom, avoid going on the Internet an hour before bedtime to avoid reading troubling news stories, checking email or updating family on Facebook, and sticking with a regular routine before hitting the sack can help. If medication is disrupting sleep, talk to the doctor to see if there is anything than can be changed. Other ways to get more rest every night are to turn off the TV when in bed, read something lightweight, and if thoughts are running rampant in the mind, push them out with a meditative thought. Stretch and feel tension and stress leave. Yawn and find the cool spot in the bed. Close the eyes and drift off. Most adults need between seven and eight hours of rest per night.

Health Briefs TV knows that some folks might have to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Try to avoid turning bright lights on. Bright lights can often make people feel more awake and thus have more trouble falling back asleep. Get a soft glowing night light for the bathroom to use instead. A good night’s rest is paramount to feeling refreshed in the morning and all day. Find the best way to get a restful sleep and stick with it.


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Thursday, August 21, 2014

Health Briefs Reveals Why Some Workers Get Less Sleep than Others



Who are the sleepiest workers in the office? Are they the ones who stay up late watching a favorite sports team play? Or are they the ones who we think work late into the night? Health Briefs reveals why some workers get less sleep than others.


The answer to the above is neither. Workers who spend their workday in a cubicle, with very little natural daylight get less sleep than others, according to a study by the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.  The study found that employees exposed to natural light slept 46 minutes longer than those who were not exposed. Poor sleep can produce short-term memory loss, slower psychomotor reflexes, and diminished attention.  Reduced sleep also affects mood, cognitive performance and can increase the chance of developing illnesses. Lack of sleep also affects work place errors and decreases productivity. Health Briefs TV suggests workers in cubes take breaks outside throughout the day. Get outside when home and enjoy the sun and daylight. Employers and office space designers should take into consideration that exposure to daylight is an environmental cue for the circadian clock, the body’s natural rhythm over a 24-hour period. If an employee is deprived of natural light, it disrupts behavioral patterns such as sleep and activity. And can make them more moody.


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