Getting a solid seven to nine hours of sleep is very important for your health. Maintaining good sleep hygiene — or the routine that surrounds going to bed — is a key component of functioning at your highest capacity. You have probably heard that you need to get an ample amount of sleep before, but you might not know why or what the detrimental effects of not doing so are. In today’s blog, your Greenville, TX, dentist discusses the health risks of persistent poor sleep.
Health Consequences
When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain doesn’t function at its peak level. You might feel irritated, sad, and just generally foggy. This isn’t too big of a deal, healthwise, if it only happens occasionally. However, If you regularly aren’t getting seven to nine hours a night, the effects become more severe. You run the risk of becoming more accident-prone, falling asleep uncontrollably, and you could start making decisions you ordinarily wouldn’t. It can also weaken your immune system and increase your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. According to the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, those who regularly get less than seven hours are more likely to gain weight than those who get enough. If you are regularly waking up groggy, despite seemingly staying in bed for a long time, you might suffer from Sleep Apnea. If you think this might be the case, you could benefit from a sleep assessment.
Find Good Habits
If you aren’t prioritizing getting enough time in bed, it could be wise to change up your routine. Make sure you turn off all electronics at least thirty minutes before your bedtime. Try to stick with a consistent schedule of turning off the lights and waking up. Place as much time as possible between your last big meal of the day and when you try to sleep. Moreover, if you lay in bed for twenty minutes and can’t fall asleep, don’t continue trying. Get up, go to another room and read until you become sleepy again. Overall, you should prioritize your bedtime ritual and turn it into a steadfast routine.
Sleep Solutions
If you already have a solid nighttime routine and are still waking up feeling groggy and tired, you could suffer from chronic snoring or sleep apnea. If this is the case, there are helpful solutions. As mentioned above, you can take a sleep assessment and undergo an at-home sleep test. If you do end up having obstructive sleep apnea, your dentist can craft a custom sleep appliance for you to wear in bed.
Contact Us To Find Healthier Sleep Habits
If you want to improve your sleep and your health, reach out to Dental Sleep Solutions of Greenville by contacting our office at 903-455-0516.