Sleep Dunwoody Blog

Hitting the snooze button can be oh-so-tempting, but have you ever wondered if it has any negative impacts on your body? An extra five to fifteen minutes of sleep in the morning may seem like a good idea if you’re tired, but in truth, you may be making things more difficult for yourself. What does the science say? And if you’re a “chronic snoozer,” does this mean you might have a sleep disorder? What are the best methods for breaking the habit?

The summer is one of the most anticipated seasons of the year, and even though the current pandemic has caused this year’s summer to look different, there are still things to look forward to, like warmer weather and longer days. One challenge of the season for many people, however, is a lack of quality sleep, largely due to hotter temperatures. Why is this the case? And is there any way to combat it? 

If you’re having issues with your sleep, it’s easy to find advice online, but there’s so much out there that at times it can feel overwhelming. While we are all for sleep tips (it’s a large part of what our blog is devoted to, after all), we understand that it can be difficult to wade through all of the available information to find guidelines that will make a difference and are easy to stick to. 

What if we told you though that there’s one thing you can try that’s almost guaranteed to make your sleep quality better — maybe even overnight? And that this tip is likely to improve not only your sleep, but your overall health, as well? It’s sleeping naked! Read on to learn the specific ways that sleeping in the buff can do wonders for your sleep and overall health.

Stress is a very common issue for Americans. In fact, a 2017 study by the American Psychological Association found that 45% of Americans had lain awake at night in the past month due to stress. While a normal, healthy level of stress can be good, motivating you to get things done and meet your professional and personal goals, long-term, high-level stress can have a lot of negative effects on your body, with one majorly impacted area being your sleep. 

Are you guilty of “irregular” sleep patterns — having no regular bedtime and wakeup schedule, or getting varying amounts of sleep each night? For many, it can be an all-too-easy habit to slip into — but although perhaps not common knowledge, the potential negative effects of irregular sleep are significant. One new study proved just how great this concern can be, linking irregular sleep in older adults to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a condition characterized by a nearly irresistible urge to move the legs, particularly in the evening, is very common, with more than three million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. While most people are probably familiar with RLS, what may be less commonly known is that those with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to suffer from RLS. What is the connection between the two issues? Learn more below. 

Dreams are a natural part of the sleep cycle. They occur most frequently during REM, or rapid eye movement sleep, a stage of the sleep cycle that occurs within 90 minutes of falling asleep and then every 90 minutes after that. During REM, your brain becomes more active than in any other sleep stage, dreaming and consolidating and processing information from the day before. While your brain is incredibly active during REM, your physical body shuts down to keep you from acting out your dreams.

Ah, sleep. A sometimes-elusive, but absolutely necessary bodily function with a seemingly endless number of benefits for physical, mental and emotional health. And still, many don’t prioritize it as they should. In case you need convincing of the importance of proper rest, we’ve compiled a list of the top three reasons that better sleep should be at the top of your to-do list for a healthier mind and body.

Whether it be a candle or a lightbulb, humans have historically found a multitude of ways to get around the darkness that nighttime brings. And now, we have more distractions than ever before that bring light into the night, from cars driving past our windows to phone and laptop screens. We may be more productive, but we’re also sleeping less: in 1910, most people slept 9 hours per night; now, one-third of Americans are getting less than 7 hours of sleep on a regular basis.

Your sleep is absolutely essential for your health, so it’s important to protect. However, many times that’s easier said than done with distractions abounding at seemingly every turn, whether they come from work, family, or just life in general. But setting boundaries and maintaining good sleep habits is more important now than ever, as we all face some uncertainty with the current situation and many find restful sleep harder to come by. Here are our top tips for maintaining strong and consistent “sleep boundaries.”