The many benefits of sleep

Why does sleep matter? It’s important to make an overall commitment to healthy, restorative sleep as Health Magazine shared these proven benefits to getting good sleep:

• It can improve memory
• It can help you live longer
• It  curbs inflammation
• It  spurs creativity
• It  helps athletic performance
• It  can improve your school (and work) grades
• It  sharpens your attention span
• It  helps you maintain a healthy weight
• It  lowers stress
• It  can help you avoid accidents
• It  reduces depression

Who would have thought that doing essentially nothing for 8 hours could be use important?

Now that you know how important sleep is, how can you get better sleep more of it? Here are some tips from the Better Sleep Council:

• Make sleep a priority by keeping  a consistent bedtime and wake schedule, including weekends.
• Create a bedtime routine that is relaxing. Experts recommend reading a book, listening to soothing music or soaking in a hot bath.
• Avoid eating, alcohol, nicotine and caffeine close to bedtime. These can lead to poor sleep, keep you awake or disrupt sleep later in the night.
• Create a room that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool for the best possible sleep.
• Keep work materials, computers and televisions out of the bedroom.
• Exercise regularly, but complete workouts at least one to two hours before bedtime.
• Evaluate your mattress and pillow to ensure proper comfort and support. If your mattress is five to seven years old, it may be time for a new one. In general, pillows should be replaced every year.
• If you sleep with a partner, your mattress should allow each of you enough space to move easily. A queen mattress is ideal for two people sharing a mattress.

Untreated sleep apnea may also be making getting a good night’s sleep impossible. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, talk to the experts at Medi-Rents and Sales and let us show you how the right CPAP machine can change your sleep and your life. We look forward to helping you live a healthy lifestyle any way we can!