Tips for Better Sleep
Here are some general guidelines for healthy sleep:
- Losing weight often improves breathing during sleep, enabling the patient to sleep more restfully with less likelihood for daytime sleepiness.
- Avoid alcohol within two hours of bedtime. Alcohol depresses breathing and increases the risk for sleep disturbances.
- Avoid sleeping pills, which depress breathing.
- Sleep on your side, not on the back.
Take a moment to assess your symptoms for a sleep disorder. If you answered “yes” to any of these, you may have sleep apnea or another sleep disorder.
- I snore
- I experience excessive daytime sleepiness
- I wake up gasping for air
- I wake up with heartburn/reflux
- I have trouble losing weight
- I have morning headaches
- It is hard for me to stay awake while driving
- I’ve been told that I fall asleep incredibly fast
- I’ve been told that I stop breathing while I sleep