Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite
Travel increases the risk of encountering bed bugs, a growing concern in places like Australia and New Zealand. These pests are notorious for hitchhiking on luggage and can ruin your holiday with their itchy bites.
Is Technology Affecting Your Sleep?
In our digitally connected world, evening screen time is often unavoidable, yet it's known to interfere with both the ability to fall asleep and sleep quality. The blue light emitted from screens can suppress melatonin production, prolonging wakefulness beyond your intended bedtime.
The Art of Napping
Feeling drowsy during the day can be effectively countered by a well-timed nap, which can diminish fatigue, heighten alertness, and improve mood, performance, and reaction times. Naps can be especially beneficial before engaging in late-night activities, extensive driving, or shift work.
Why Do I Sweat When I Sleep?
Experiencing night sweats can significantly disrupt your sleep, leaving you feeling tired and lethargic the next day. Your core body temperature naturally fluctuates in tune with your circadian rhythm, dropping as you feel sleepy and reaching its lowest around 4 AM. If you're struggling with falling asleep or find yourself waking up due to overheating, consider what might be affecting your body temperature.
Combatting Jet Lag
Jet lag can be a challenging part of traveling across time zones, disrupting your body’s circadian rhythm, and impacting overall well-being. Symptoms include insomnia, fatigue, irritability, and digestive issues.
Adjusting Your Sleep as Daylight Savings Begins
The transition to daylight saving time means setting our clocks forward an hour, which can disrupt our sleep patterns and mimic symptoms of jet lag. Losing morning light and gaining more evening light can throw off our body’s natural rhythm, known as the circadian rhythm.
Control Allergens with a Bedroom Spring Clean
Spring not only ushers in warmer weather but also allergy season, affecting many with symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny noses. Common indoor allergens include pollen, dust mites, mould, and pet dander. While outdoor allergens are less controllable, you can take steps to minimize indoor allergens, especially in the bedroom.
Is Your Coffee Intake Affecting Your Sleep?
Coffee is a beloved ritual for many, providing a necessary boost in the morning or a pleasant break in the afternoon. However, it's important to understand how caffeine, a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, and chocolate, affects sleep. While caffeine can energize your day, it can also disrupt your night by interfering with sleep quality.
Strategies for Reducing Dust Mite Allergens in Your Bedroom
Dust mites are a common bedroom inhabitant and a frequent cause of allergy and asthma flare-ups. While completely eliminating dust mites is unlikely, reducing your exposure is possible with these strategies.
Optimising Your Winter Sleep Routine
Winter brings shorter days and longer nights, which can disrupt our body's natural sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm. This seasonal change can make it tempting to alter our sleep habits by going to bed earlier or sleeping in longer, yet maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is crucial for keeping our circadian rhythm stable.
Sharing the Bed with Pets
Many of us cherish the comfort and security our pets provide, especially at night. However, sharing your bed with a pet has both benefits and drawbacks. While pets can offer warmth and comfort, their nocturnal movements can disrupt your sleep. Pets can also introduce allergens like dander, and outdoor dirt into your bed, which could aggravate allergies or asthma.
Healthy Sleep, Healthy Ageing
March 15th marks World Sleep Day, an annual event organized by the World Sleep Society with support from global entities to highlight the importance of sleep health. This year, the theme focuses on 'Healthy Sleep, Healthy Ageing,' emphasizing the evolving sleep needs as we grow older.