Managing Sleep Issues

A person's quality of health and life can be severely reduced by Insomnia and sleep disorders. Without sleep your immune system may weaken leaving you prone to illnesses. During deep stages of sleep, your memories get stored so that you may retrieve them later. It also helps restore muscular energy, and release growth hormones for proper physical and mental development.

In the night time the pineal gland produces melatonin. As this hormone increases in our body we feel sleepier and our body temperature drops. Exposure to light triggers the release of serotonin and ceases melatonin production. Our body temperature increases thus making you feel more awake.

A lack of serotonin can be associated with people who suffer from anxiety, depression and sleep problems. A person's sleep is also influenced by their environment. Winter months can be a difficult time to get through for some people who may experience low mood and energy. Individuals that experience depression and insomnia in seasons when sunlight is reduced are said to have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

To help maintain a regular sleep pattern, light is important. This might not be possible at times but making sure you get enough exposure to strong artificial light can also benefit. This is a simple solution in How To Beat Insomnia and regulate your sleep pattern. Try and work in a well lit environment in the day so you can maximize on the body's natural production of serotonin.

It is best to be in bed earlier and to wake up earlier in the morning. This way you can maximize your exposure to sunlight in the day. To help increase melatonin and aid sleep, try dimming the lights in the evening. Furthermore, try to spend time winding down before sleep, since sleep comes much more easily when we're relaxed.

It is also important to make your room as dark as possible when you sleep, by turning out all lights and ensuring that you have no outside light entering into your room. Blackout curtains are ideal in the bedroom to stop exterior light from entering. However, if you already have curtains then you can line the inside to make them less permeable to light. On the other hand, some people may find that wearing an eye mask is a better solution.

When we sleep our body's temperature drops a little. So what has temperature got to do with sleep? Well have you ever found that during hot summer nights it is even more difficult to sleep?

Women suffer from sleepless nights when they are menstruating as their body temperature increases. The temperature of the human body rises in the morning and thus helps us stay awake. During the night our body temperature drops and in turn, our alertness reduces and we become sleepier.

Taking a hot bath a good hour before sleep is both relaxing and a great way to aid sleep. While at first the body increases in temperature, as it cools it promotes sleepiness. Be aware that you should not have a hot bath just before going to bed, as your body will need an hour or so to cool down.

The proper sleep wear can make sleep much more relaxing. In addition, keep your room at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. In the hot summer months, dress lighter and keep the bedroom well ventilated.