Sleep, Beautiful Sleep part 1
from The Hazelbrook PS Newsletter, Tuesday, November 6, 2001
We are eating into our sleep requirements to such a degree that we are chronically under-functioning.
People who do not get enough sleep are endangering their health and seriously jeopardizing their performance at work and play. Lack of sleep results also in irritability and accidents like going to sleep while driving a vehicle.
Ever since Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb the human race has had the opportunity to be as active during the night as in the day.
We complain of insomnia and yet we do over stimulating activities at night like watch exciting movies on television well after we are already tired. We drink caffeine in the latter part of the day. We eat our largest meal of the day at night- often way too late and too close to bedtime. Exercise too close to bedtime is also overstimulating. Wrong diet, lack of enough daytime exercise, alcohol, mental stresses like anxiety, depression, paranoia and obsessive compulsive disorder, unresolved conflicts and anger are all sleep thieves.
Adults should have a good 7-8 hours of sleep each night and children should have at least 8-10 hours of good quality sleep.
Sleeping on your left side is best. Your head should always be higher than your feet. If you have breathing difficulties you should consult a breathing practitioner so that your nights rest becomes something you treasure and do not dread. If you sleep with your mouth open you are certainly endangering your well being. Children who are mouth breathers invariably need expensive orthodontia and suffer conditions such as asthma, allergies, migraine and excema. Adults who snore or have sleep apnoea know all too well how horrible they feel in the morning. If you breathe nasally and gently all night you wake up fresh and healthy each morning. The added bonus of efficient sleep is that you boost you immune system and actually need less sleep.
For any queries regarding sleep or other aspects mentioned in this column please feel free to catch me at school or by phoning 47 58 6662. Sleep well everyone- Jennifer Harris BIBH.