BY DONNA WESTFALL

A holiday few have heard of; National Sleep Day….. that happens on the 3rd of January.

Sleep is important.  Some experts suggest:

1. You want to make sure your entire sleep environment is comfortable.  No sagging mattresses.  Plump up your pillow.  Use firm if that makes you more comfortable or

soft is that’s more to your liking just as long as it supports your back and neck.

2. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, cool, and comfortable.  Wear socks for cold feet.  Poke your partner if they start snoring.

3. Temperature is really important- keep the room on the cooler side.

4. Some people may benefit from having a humidifier in the room in the winter time if the air is dry. An air purifier is a good addition if the specific person has allergies. Others use a de-humidifier to get excess moisture out of the air to avert allergies.

5. A sound machine can be helpful if you are living in a noisy environment, which can help soothe and relax.

6. Aroma therapy makes some feel calmer.

Adequate sleep is important for your health.  This past year, fewer than six hours of sleep a night was linked to increased risk of stroke.

7. Soda, tea and some energy drinks that contain caffeine and should be avoided in the late afternoon and evening- caffeine will keep you awake. As with caffeine, alcohol can cause you to wake more often. Cut off alcohol a couple hours before bedtime as well.  However, on the other hand, some people sleep better with alcohol in their system.   Just be aware of the need to pee factor.

Getting adequate sleep is important for good health.  This past year it was discovered that getting fewer than six hours of sleep a night was linked with an increased likelihood of stroke.

On the other hand, researchers found that getting more than eight hours of sleep can create a higher risk for cardiovascular problems including stroke, congestive heart failure and heart attack.

Being sleep deprived affects the immune system similarly to stress.  More car accidents take place when one is nodding off behind the wheel.  Best if you can pull over and get a few winks before continuing your journey.

Here’s a remedy told to me by a woman who suffered with insomnia for years until she tried this:

Boil a whole onion in a cup of milk.  Strain the onion out of the milk once it’s soft.  Drink the milk.  Sleep like a baby.

Good night and sleep tight and don’t let those bed bugs bite.