Summary
- Life changes, such as having a baby, can rob people of much needed sleep.
- Certain lifestyle habits can get in the way of sleep.
- There are steps you can take to overcome sleep obstacles.
Adults in the United States get less sleep than experts recommend. In the short term, moods worsen and accidents are more likely. In the long term, adults face a bigger risk of many health problems. Infections, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers are linked to sleep loss over time.
Sometimes, sleep disorders are to blame for poor or little sleep. Other times, lifestyle choices or life events disrupt sleep. But although there may be hurdles to good sleep, there are ways to get past them.
A new baby
Having a new baby at home can be tiring. While parents focus on the baby’s sleep, sleep for parents can take a backseat. Yet there are ways to cope during those early days:
- Share tasks at night. If mom is breastfeeding, she can pump milk so that dad can take on a nighttime feeding. If you are using a bottle, take turns feeding.
- Sleep when baby sleeps. Resist the urge to use this time to catch up on chores.
- Ask for help. When people visit, ask if they can watch the baby while you rest.
- Use a bassinet or crib. When you are ready to sleep, put the baby in a crib or next to you in a bassinet rather than in the bed with you. This way, you won't need to worry about your baby’s safety.
- Try to watch and wait. Your baby’s cries may mean they are settling down. Wait to see if the cries continue as a sign of hunger or discomfort before getting out of bed.
Noisy bed partners
Sometimes the biggest sleep disruption comes from the person next to you. If you or your bed partner snores, try these tips for quieter rest:
- If the snoring partner is a back sleeper, nudge them to roll to the side.
- Skip alcohol and late night meals. Both make snoring worse.
- Think about seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist.
- Wear earplugs or use a white noise machine to drown out sounds.
If you or your partner has to leave the room because of snoring or kicking during the night, it is time to see a doctor.
Medicines and herbs
Medicines and herbs may be designed to help us, but some can disrupt sleep. This includes some you buy on your own and some that are given to you by a doctor, including:
- High blood pressure medicines
- Hormones such as oral contraceptives
- Steroids, including prednisone
- Breathing medicines
- Diet pills
- Attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder medicines
- Some antidepressants
- Medicines with pseudoephedrine
- Medicines with caffeine
Sometimes, medicines people take to help fall asleep can cause problems. Your body can get used to them, and they may not help anymore. Or you may not be able to sleep without them anymore.
If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about all of the medicines you take to see if one or more are to blame.
Alcohol, smoking, caffeine and illegal drugs
Certain lifestyle choices greatly affect sleep. Too much caffeine can keep you awake. This is especially true for caffeine intake late in the day. Nicotine is also a stimulant that can reduce sleep hours. And although alcohol can make you drowsy at first, it can disrupt sleep later on. Among other dangers, illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, can greatly harm sleep.
Sleep disorders
For some people, sleep problems are caused by a sleep disorder. If you have daytime fatigue or can’t fall or stay asleep, tell your doctor. You may need to see a sleep specialist. You may also need to have a sleep study called a polysomnography. This test looks at many things to help find out if you have a sleep disorder, including brain activity and heart rate. If you have one, your doctor can help you get the sleep you need.
Take charge of your sleep
Although you can’t control everything, these tips can help you get past sleep obstacles. They can also help prevent longer term sleep problems. And protecting your sleep means protecting your health.
Summary
- Life changes, such as having a baby, can rob people of much needed sleep.
- Certain lifestyle habits can get in the way of sleep.
- There are steps you can take to overcome sleep obstacles.
Adults in the United States get less sleep than experts recommend. In the short term, moods worsen and accidents are more likely. In the long term, adults face a bigger risk of many health problems. Infections, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers are linked to sleep loss over time.
Sometimes, sleep disorders are to blame for poor or little sleep. Other times, lifestyle choices or life events disrupt sleep. But although there may be hurdles to good sleep, there are ways to get past them.
A new baby
Having a new baby at home can be tiring. While parents focus on the baby’s sleep, sleep for parents can take a backseat. Yet there are ways to cope during those early days:
- Share tasks at night. If mom is breastfeeding, she can pump milk so that dad can take on a nighttime feeding. If you are using a bottle, take turns feeding.
- Sleep when baby sleeps. Resist the urge to use this time to catch up on chores.
- Ask for help. When people visit, ask if they can watch the baby while you rest.
- Use a bassinet or crib. When you are ready to sleep, put the baby in a crib or next to you in a bassinet rather than in the bed with you. This way, you won't need to worry about your baby’s safety.
- Try to watch and wait. Your baby’s cries may mean they are settling down. Wait to see if the cries continue as a sign of hunger or discomfort before getting out of bed.
Noisy bed partners
Sometimes the biggest sleep disruption comes from the person next to you. If you or your bed partner snores, try these tips for quieter rest:
- If the snoring partner is a back sleeper, nudge them to roll to the side.
- Skip alcohol and late night meals. Both make snoring worse.
- Think about seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist.
- Wear earplugs or use a white noise machine to drown out sounds.
If you or your partner has to leave the room because of snoring or kicking during the night, it is time to see a doctor.
Medicines and herbs
Medicines and herbs may be designed to help us, but some can disrupt sleep. This includes some you buy on your own and some that are given to you by a doctor, including:
- High blood pressure medicines
- Hormones such as oral contraceptives
- Steroids, including prednisone
- Breathing medicines
- Diet pills
- Attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder medicines
- Some antidepressants
- Medicines with pseudoephedrine
- Medicines with caffeine
Sometimes, medicines people take to help fall asleep can cause problems. Your body can get used to them, and they may not help anymore. Or you may not be able to sleep without them anymore.
If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about all of the medicines you take to see if one or more are to blame.
Alcohol, smoking, caffeine and illegal drugs
Certain lifestyle choices greatly affect sleep. Too much caffeine can keep you awake. This is especially true for caffeine intake late in the day. Nicotine is also a stimulant that can reduce sleep hours. And although alcohol can make you drowsy at first, it can disrupt sleep later on. Among other dangers, illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, can greatly harm sleep.
Sleep disorders
For some people, sleep problems are caused by a sleep disorder. If you have daytime fatigue or can’t fall or stay asleep, tell your doctor. You may need to see a sleep specialist. You may also need to have a sleep study called a polysomnography. This test looks at many things to help find out if you have a sleep disorder, including brain activity and heart rate. If you have one, your doctor can help you get the sleep you need.
Take charge of your sleep
Although you can’t control everything, these tips can help you get past sleep obstacles. They can also help prevent longer term sleep problems. And protecting your sleep means protecting your health.
Summary
- Life changes, such as having a baby, can rob people of much needed sleep.
- Certain lifestyle habits can get in the way of sleep.
- There are steps you can take to overcome sleep obstacles.
Adults in the United States get less sleep than experts recommend. In the short term, moods worsen and accidents are more likely. In the long term, adults face a bigger risk of many health problems. Infections, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers are linked to sleep loss over time.
Sometimes, sleep disorders are to blame for poor or little sleep. Other times, lifestyle choices or life events disrupt sleep. But although there may be hurdles to good sleep, there are ways to get past them.
A new baby
Having a new baby at home can be tiring. While parents focus on the baby’s sleep, sleep for parents can take a backseat. Yet there are ways to cope during those early days:
- Share tasks at night. If mom is breastfeeding, she can pump milk so that dad can take on a nighttime feeding. If you are using a bottle, take turns feeding.
- Sleep when baby sleeps. Resist the urge to use this time to catch up on chores.
- Ask for help. When people visit, ask if they can watch the baby while you rest.
- Use a bassinet or crib. When you are ready to sleep, put the baby in a crib or next to you in a bassinet rather than in the bed with you. This way, you won't need to worry about your baby’s safety.
- Try to watch and wait. Your baby’s cries may mean they are settling down. Wait to see if the cries continue as a sign of hunger or discomfort before getting out of bed.
Noisy bed partners
Sometimes the biggest sleep disruption comes from the person next to you. If you or your bed partner snores, try these tips for quieter rest:
- If the snoring partner is a back sleeper, nudge them to roll to the side.
- Skip alcohol and late night meals. Both make snoring worse.
- Think about seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist.
- Wear earplugs or use a white noise machine to drown out sounds.
If you or your partner has to leave the room because of snoring or kicking during the night, it is time to see a doctor.
Medicines and herbs
Medicines and herbs may be designed to help us, but some can disrupt sleep. This includes some you buy on your own and some that are given to you by a doctor, including:
- High blood pressure medicines
- Hormones such as oral contraceptives
- Steroids, including prednisone
- Breathing medicines
- Diet pills
- Attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder medicines
- Some antidepressants
- Medicines with pseudoephedrine
- Medicines with caffeine
Sometimes, medicines people take to help fall asleep can cause problems. Your body can get used to them, and they may not help anymore. Or you may not be able to sleep without them anymore.
If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your doctor about all of the medicines you take to see if one or more are to blame.
Alcohol, smoking, caffeine and illegal drugs
Certain lifestyle choices greatly affect sleep. Too much caffeine can keep you awake. This is especially true for caffeine intake late in the day. Nicotine is also a stimulant that can reduce sleep hours. And although alcohol can make you drowsy at first, it can disrupt sleep later on. Among other dangers, illegal drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, can greatly harm sleep.
Sleep disorders
For some people, sleep problems are caused by a sleep disorder. If you have daytime fatigue or can’t fall or stay asleep, tell your doctor. You may need to see a sleep specialist. You may also need to have a sleep study called a polysomnography. This test looks at many things to help find out if you have a sleep disorder, including brain activity and heart rate. If you have one, your doctor can help you get the sleep you need.
Take charge of your sleep
Although you can’t control everything, these tips can help you get past sleep obstacles. They can also help prevent longer term sleep problems. And protecting your sleep means protecting your health.