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​By Karen Bruno, PT, DPT

According to a recent article published in the American Journal of Physical Therapy, “Research continues to reveal that sleep is not a period of physiologic inactivity; rather, it represents a critical period of recovery that supports cardiovascular, neurologic, and other life functions. Sleep is a basic human need, and recent attention on sleep by researchers and media are changing sleep attitudes and behaviors. Sufficient sleep was often viewed as a luxury, and reduced sleep time was often equated with increased productivity; however, attitudes are shifting to prioritize sufficient quality sleep.  Quality sleep is recognized as a positive health behavior, and it has been recommended to consider sleep as another vital sign,  as sleep can give insight into the functioning and health of the body (3)."

You may have noticed that getting a good night’s sleep helps you to feel better both physically and mentally and this helps you function better during your waking hours.  Basically, getting a good night’s sleep is a game changer that enhances the quality of your life. “Sleep is critical for the proper functioning of the body, including immune function, tissue healing, pain modulation, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and learning and memory.  Impaired sleep can lead to obesity, mood disorders, constipation and heart disease” (3).

1. https://www.sleepassociation.org/about-sleep/sleep-statistics/​
2. https://academic.oup.com/ptj/article/97/8/826/3831304
3. Siengsukon CF, Al-dughmi M, Stevens S. Sleep health promotion: practical information for physical therapists. Phys Ther. 2017;97(8):826-836. 

 
Tips for Healthy Sleep
There is good news! There are many natural ways to improve the quality of your sleep and restore your sleep health. Scroll through the list below and try one or more of the tips, and see how they work for you.

• Decrease stress - Try diaphragmatic breathing to help you wind down and de-stress. Breathing full breaths in through your nose for 4 seconds and exhaling through your mouth or nose for 8 seconds is calming to the nervous system.
• Create your bedroom space as a peaceful sanctuary - remove electronics, TV’s, exercise equipment and anything that may remind you of any form of work. Reserve your bed for sleeping and intimacy.
• Get to bed in enough time to enable you to get 7+ hours of sleep. Create a relaxing bedtime routine. Read a book or take a bath to help wind down.
• Establish regular sleeping and waking hours
• Avoid light-emitting electronic devices at least 30 minutes to 2 hours before bedtime; use amber glasses at night when watching TV or working on a laptop.
• Find the right temperature for your bedroom. The general recommendation is to keep the bedroom temperature between 60-70 degrees.
• Sleep in complete darkness. Use of an eye mask may be beneficial to keep light out. Use earplugs or a white noise machine to block out noises.
• Consider applying a hot pack to your abdomen. This can be very calming. Keep the hot pack on for no more than 20 minutes. If you tend to have cold feet, wrapping a hot pack around your feet for 10-20 minutes can be warming and relaxing.
• Consider using essential oils. Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Vetiver provide relaxing effects and calm the nervous system. You can diffuse them, put the oils on your pulse point, rub them on the bottom of your feet, lightly spray them on your pillowcase or add them to an Epsom Salt bath and take the bath before bedtime.
• Find a comfortable, supportive, neutral sleep positions. Use of a neck roll or a lumbar roll, or a pillow between your knees when you are on your side as positioning supports.
• Avoid taking naps to catch up on sleep.
• Exercise can have a positive effect on deep sleep. Find the time of day that works best for you. Stretching, strengthening, yoga, aerobics or a combination of activities may be right for you.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and other inflammation-causing foods, like sugary snacks, refined carbohydrates, or processed meats, late at night.
• Support through vitamins and supplements may be useful. Please check with your doctor, nutritionist, pharmacist or herbal practitioner for what may be right for you. Some common sleep nutrients include ashwagandha, valerian, chamomile, passion flower, lemon balm, melatonin, L-theanine and 5-HTP or Tryptophan.  GABA is helpful if sleep is disturbed by anxiety. Taurine and phosphatidylserine help to lower cortisol. Magnesium and magnesium glycinate are helpful in insomnia.
• Move your energy through easy Energy Medicine exercises.