We Need Sleep!

Posted on April 18, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

Are you one of the people who believe you don’t need sleep?  Is your mantra, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead?”  What will it take to convince you that sleep is just as important to your mental and physical health as diet and exercise?  Below is an infographic with some pretty astounding facts and statistics about sleep, which will hopefully convince you of the importance of sleep.

Here are a few highlights from the sleep infographic that really caught our attention:

  • 20% of all motor vehicle crashes are caused by drowsy driver which leads to 8000 deaths each year.
  • Only getting five hours of sleep each night raises your risk of becoming overweight by 73%.
  • Your risk of developing heart disease increases by 48% when you get less than six hours of sleep each night.

With only 40% of Americans getting enough sleep each night, 1800Mattress.com can’t stress enough the importance of sleep hygiene.  To make sure you are getting quality sleep each night, turn your bedroom into a sleep inducing environment.  A cool, dark room that is an electronics-free zone is conducive to easily falling asleep.  Don’t forget the importance of your mattress because you spend one-third of your life on it, so you want to make sure that it comfortable and supportive.

You Need More Sleep
Created by: MedicalBillingandCodingCertification.net

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Worst Cities for Sleep

Posted on March 30, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

A new ranking is out that determined the best and worst cities for sleep.  How is a city chosen as one of the worst for sleep?  Those in the worst cities for sleep clocked the most difference with amount of time spent sleeping on a nightly basis.  The time spent sleeping in the worst cities for sleep can vary from anywhere to two hours more or two hours less than the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep.

So what cities aren’t sleeping well?

Louisville, Kentucky tops the list of the worst cities for sleep.  Memphis and Knoxville, Tennessee follow with New Orleans, Louisiana and Jacksonville, Florida rounding out the top five worst cities for sleep.  The rest of the top ten worst cities for sleep can be found on Sleep.com.

While most people who participated reported getting less sleep than recommended, it should also be noted that getting too much sleep can be just as bad.  Recent studies have found that oversleeping can result in heart problems.  We really need to strive to get just the right amount of sleep to reap the maximum benefits of quality sleep.

The ranking published by Real Age also found the best cities for sleep and the top five are Charlotte, North Carolina, Cleveland, Ohio, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Austin, Texas.

To make sure you’ll get the recommended amount of sleep you can do a small calculation.  Determine what time your alarm will go off in the morning and then go back 7.5 hours and that should be your bedtime to get enough sleep.  If you just can’t get to bed in time to clock 7.5 hours of sleep, try and take a 20 minute nap during the day.

Want to see if your city made it to on the top 25 best and worst cities for sleep?  Visit RealAge.com.

For more great information on sleep and more, visit Sleep.com.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

World Sleep Day

Posted on March 15, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

World Sleep Day is Friday March 16th.  How should you celebrate?  Well, you can try and get an extra hour of sleep, but we all live busy lives so that’s nearly impossible.  While World Sleep Day is about sleep, it’s also about spreading knowledge about the importance of sleep in all of our lives.  Whether we get too much or too little of it, sleep is something that connects us all, yet we still have so much to learn about it.

A great way to recognize World Sleep Day is to just talk about sleep with other people.  Everyone has their own sleep tips that help them sleep each night, so it would be great to share them among friends and family to help everyone get some sleep.  You can also read about sleep because there is always something new to learn about sleep.  You can find out how sleep affects your weight or mood and even your memory.  If we all talk about sleep on March 16th, we’ll be doing our part raising awareness.

 

We have to spread the word about the importance of sleep in everyone’s lives, especially those who aren’t getting enough.  Sleep deprivation is dangerous and can lead to many serious diseases.  On this World Sleep Day make sure to reach out and discuss sleep so that we can raise awareness on these important matters.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Prepare Your Kids for Daylight Saving Time

Posted on March 7, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

Daylight Saving Time is quickly approaching.  This Sunday, March 11th, we will be losing an hour of sleep as we “spring ahead.”  It is quite daunting to think that we already don’t get enough sleep and now we’re going to lose an hour on top of being sleep deprived.  We all have a difficult time dealing with the lost hour, but young children are also affected by the change as well.

Children need 9 to 11 hours of sleep each night, so if they’re losing an hour of sleep this Sunday then it makes sense to put them to bed an hour earlier.  But let’s face it, kids aren’t always very willing to go to bed on time, so the concept of going to bed an hour earlier may ruffle some feathers.  1800Mattress.com has a few tips to help you get your child to bed earlier for Daylight Saving Time.

First, take some time to explain why their bedtime is being changed.  You don’t have to go into the gritty details of Daylight Saving Time, but discussing that since there is an hour lost you need to gain it back by going to bed earlier.  To ease your way into this earlier bedtime, start the transition four days earlier by making your child go to bed 15 minutes earlier than their normal bedtime.  As each day passes add another 15 minutes until you are at an hour earlier than normal bedtime.  Doing this will make it semi-easier to get your child to go to bed earlier since it isn’t a whole hour earlier all at once.

Keep their bedtime and wake time consistent.  Keeping a schedule for these times will make their bodies accustomed to going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.  The day after losing an hour of sleep, the children won’t be fully adjusted to the shift, so what is 9pm actually still feels like 8pm to them; but if you stick to your bedtime schedule, this transition will be easier to make.

Kids (and adults) who don’t get enough sleep are cranky, sleepy, restless and unfocused the next day.  If you feel your child is persistently sleepy and unfocused, it could be a sign of a sleeping disorder and should be evaluated by your child’s pediatrician.

Do you have trouble transitioning your kids’ bedtimes for Daylight Saving Time?  Have you tried any of these tips before?  Is there something you do that helps your child that wasn’t mentioned?  Leave all your responses in the comment section below.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Sleeping Pills New Risk

Posted on March 1, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

Have you heard the news that a recent study concluded that sleeping pills may be as detrimental to your health as cigarettes?  According to the study, “The top third of sleeping-pill users had a 5.3-fold higher death risk. They also had a 35% higher risk of cancer.”  Those are some pretty astonishing findings that show just how dangerous sleeping pills can be.  The type of sleeping pills under fire is called hypnotics.  The common name for hypnotic sleeping pills include Ambien, Restoril, Lunesta and many others.

Hypnotic sleeping pills make you fall asleep, which is different from sleep aides like melatonin which relaxes your body in preparation for sleep.  With the dangerous findings that have come about from the sleeping pill study, one must realize the importance of quality sleep and how to get it naturally before getting help from a prescription.

It is possible to get a great night’s sleep without the help of a pill; you just have to be willing to commit to what needs to be done.  Getting quality sleep naturally requires an effort on your part but the reward is completely worth it.  There are many aspects of your life that you can change for the better to get, well, better sleep.  It all starts with evaluating your mattress.  Are you up all night tossing and turning?  Are you waking up more tired than when you went to bed?  Is your mattress anywhere from 5-7+ years old?  Answering “Yes” to any of these questions means you may need a new mattress.  The right mattress will perfectly comfort and support your body by keeping your spine in neutral alignment.  If your mattress is old and no longer supporting you properly, that will cause you to toss and turn all night which disrupts your sleep and diminishes your sleep quality.

You’ll also want to evaluate some of your lifestyle choices.  Do you work out right before bed?  Do you have several cups of coffee throughout your day, especially past 12pm?  Do you have a nightcap to help ease you in to sleep?  Any of these may be the reason you’re dealing with bouts of insomnia.  Exercise, eating or drinking too close to bed time can keep you up all night while your metabolism is revved and processing whatever you have consumed.  Try and cut exercising and eating/drinking by two hours before you plan to go to bed.

None of these are guaranteed fixes, which is why if you’re not sleeping well more often than not, you should consult your doctor.  They may recommend you see a sleep doctor who can diagnose which sleep disorder you may have, if any.  Or your general practitioner may suggest Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which has seen positive results when it comes to patients with insomnia.  No one thing can help you get a great night’s sleep, which is why you should ask your doctor’s advice about all natural ways to get back to bed before he or she fills out a prescription.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Perfect Nap

Posted on February 22, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

Cat naps, power naps and siestas, oh my!  No matter what you call it, we can all agree that in our sleep deprived lives we would appreciate a nap every now and then.  But did you know that there is a right and wrong way to nap?  There are certain guidelines you can follow so that you can achieve the perfect nap with all its benefits.

The most important factor when it comes to perfecting a nap is timing.  A nap that is too long will actually make you feel groggier and more exhausted than you felt before the nap.  The problem with long naps (anything over one hour) is that your body begins to enter deep sleep stages.  When our bodies are in deep sleep it is more difficult to wake up.  The ideal nap time limit is no more than 30 minutes.  You really only need 10 or 15 minutes for a nap to feel its rejuvenating powers and because you’re only catching a few Z’s, it won’t be hard to wake up when it’s time.  In order keep your nap short, set an alarm.  It’s a surefire way to make sure that you won’t oversleep and feel more tired.

You’ll want to make sure that you are in a nap friendly zone.  A room that is dark and quiet should suffice as a good napping environment.  It may be more difficult to nap if you’re at work, especially if your company does not condone napping.  However, if you drive to work, you can close your eyes for a few minutes in the parking lot during your lunch break.  Whether you can nap at your desk or in your car, you may want to consider bringing an eye mask with you to simulate the effects of sleeping in a dark room.

As long as you keep your naps on the short side and find the right environment (dark and quiet), you should have no problem combating your missed sleep.  Napping is a great way to not only boost your energy, but also your productivity.  Just be careful not to nap too close to bedtime because that will disrupt your sleep, making it difficult to fall asleep at your bedtime.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

1800Mattress Presidents’ Sale Going on NOW!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

Don’t put off purchasing a new mattress any longer as 1800Mattress and 1800Mattress.com’s Presidents Sale is going on NOW!  With up to 65% off on select models of your favorites from Sealy, Serta and Simmons, now is the perfect time to finally upgrade you sleep system.  Whether your child is ready to transition to their “big kid” bed or your mattress just isn’t supporting you like it did 7 years ago, you’ll be sure to find your next mattress at 1800Mattress.

It’s so important to have a mattress that properly supports you.  A mattress that is too firm or too soft will keep your body out of alignment while you sleep and then you’ll wake up with aches and pains in the morning.  Our salespeople are equipped with the knowledge to find the right mattress for your body and your wallet.  Studies prove the importance of sleep and how it affects your quality of life.  Sleeping on an old, unsupportive mattress will negatively impact your health because it will keep you from getting restorative, deep sleep each night.

Give 1800Mattress a call at 1-800-M-A-T-T-R-E-S or visit us online during our Presidents’ Sale to find your new mattress. You’ll be able to rest easy knowing that you got a great mattress at a great price.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in 1800Mattress | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pillow Talk

Posted on February 8, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

Do you know the importance your pillow plays each night when it comes to achieving quality sleep?  Do you know when the last time you replaced your pillows was?  Do you even know when to replace your pillows?  The proper pillow plays a crucial role when it comes to keeping your head and neck in alignment with your spine so that you not only get quality sleep, but also you won’t wake up with any strain or pain in your neck.

The first thing to know about pillows is when to replace them.  If you can’t remember the last time you bought new pillows then that is usually a good sign that you are overdue for an upgrade.  If you have a better idea of your past pillow purchase then you’ll want to try the pillow test to see if they are properly supporting you each night.  Fold your pillow in half on a flat surface and then place a shoe on top of the folded pillow.  If the pillow unfolds back to flat then your pillow is working properly.  If after you place the shoe on your folded pillow and your pillow remains in half, you need a new pillow.  Pillows that work properly provide support and you can see how supportive your pillow is if it’s able to bounce back to its normal shape when held down by a light weight.  Your head puts its full weight on your pillow every night, so after some time your pillow will begin to wear down and loose support.

When it’s time for a new pillow, you should also know how to shop for a pillow.  The best way to determine what kind of pillow you need is to figure out what your preferred sleeping position is.  You’ll need a pillow that will properly support your head in the position that you stay in the longest each night.  Soft, flat pillows are good for stomach sleepers.  A pillow that is soft but slightly full best supports back sleepers because it will allow your head to sink a bit into the pillow without propping your neck up too high.  A full pillow is most beneficial for side sleepers because you’ll need a pillow that supports the gap between your head and shoulders that is created from sleeping on your side.  If you’re really not sure what kind of pillow to get then visit your local 1800Matttress showroom and speak to one of our sales people who can guide you towards the right pillow based on your sleeping position.

From memory foam pillows to pillows with speakers and a pillow that reduces snoring; 1800Mattress.com has a variety of different pillows with all different functionalities.  The perfect pillow is just as important as the perfect mattress so that your body is fully supported and comforted for restful sleep.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

How Sleep Deprivation Affects Hunger Levels

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

We all know that it’s a bad idea to go to the supermarket on an empty stomach, but now research has found that you may not want to go to the supermarket when you’re tired as well!  Scientists have found a correlation between lack of sleep and an increased feeling of hunger.  So to avoid picking up junk food while at the supermarket, it would be best to eat before you go and make sure you’re fully rested.

The study conducted research on 12 men who were asked to look at images of foods with both high and low calories after getting a quality night’s rest as well as after getting no sleep one night.  What was found was that after being kept up all night, the men’s brain scans showed higher activity in the portion of the brain that controls hunger.  Although they were feeling more hungry after no sleep and looking at the food images, their blood glucose levels were relatively the same before and after looking at the images.  This gives the conclusion that a lack of sleep plus seeing images of food will give you a false sense of hunger.

So not only does quality sleep give you the energy to go to the gym, but also it will now help keep you on track with your diet.  You can really achieve that “new you,” in the New Year by getting the sleep you deserve (and need).  The science community is still trying to figure out the exact reason for our need to sleep, but we certainly are learning quite a lot about what happens if we don’t get enough sleep.

When there is a deficiency of sleep, both moods and health are affected.  Not getting quality sleep also decreases cognitive functions making a person more prone to injury such as in a car accident because reaction time is decreased on less sleep.  It’s easy to see how sleep benefits us by examining what happens when we don’t get it.  Sleep deprivation is a serious issue and if you notice any changes in your sleeping patterns, or if you’re just not able to get quality sleep, you should talk to your doctor about it.  Getting back in shape and improving your help will come more easily when you start getting adequate sleep.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in Sleeping | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

How to Shop for Sheets

Posted on January 18, 2012 by admin
Share
Email

Shopping for sheets can be just as confusing as shopping for a new mattress.  There are different terms associated with sheets that differentiate one set of sheets from the other.  1800Mattress.com wants to make your shopping experience a little bit easier by providing you with sheet shopping tips and a sleep glossary that will fill you in on the ABC’s of sheets.

Thread count is probably the most common term associated with sheets and is usually preceded by a number that is supposed to be a guide to the quality of the set.  “Thread count” means that it is the number of threads in each square inch of the fabric that go horizontal and vertical.  It’s pretty much an old-wives tale to only go by the thread count of a set of sheets to determine how nice they are.

Then there is the ply of the fabric and the ply determines the number of threads wrapped together.  There can be single-ply, which means only one thread is used and then there is double-ply, which means that two threads were intertwined.  The ply is associated to the thread count because a 300 thread count can mean that it is either 300 single-ply threads or 150 double-ply threads in each square inch of the fabric.  The difference in feel between single-ply and double-ply threads is fairly simple.  The single-ply threads make the sheet feel thinner, while double-ply makes the sheet more durable and heavier.

You can get sheets in all different materials, silk, microfiber and even the same type of material that is similar to athletic clothing.  Cotton is one of the most popular types of sheets, but did you know that there are different types of cotton that you can get?  There are Egyptian cotton, Pima cotton and Organic cotton and they all have a different feel to them.  Egyptian cotton has a luxurious feel that is known for being highly absorbent and keeps the sleeper cool because of its breathability.  Pima cotton is grown here in the United States as well as South America and is said to be highly durable.  Lastly, Organic cotton is well, organic, which means that it’s grown without any chemicals such as pesticides or fertilizers.

As with buying a new mattress, it is always important to test the product out.  You can find sample panels of the sheets in stores so that you can feel which one you want to purchase.  Comfort is key when shopping for a new mattress and new sheets and no one can tell you what you will or won’t like; you have to try it out for yourself.  You’re going to be spending one-third of your life sleeping, so you might as well have the best mattress and the coziest sheets to snuggle up in.

 

Contributor: Greg Longmuir

Posted in 1800Mattress | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment