Are you experiencing sleep problems? Do you have trouble falling asleep or suffer from insomnia? Do you wake up tired? Here are some habits to avoid for better sleep.
Our sleep duration has significantly decreased over the last decade. This situation can have significant consequences: insufficient sleep weakens the body and makes you more vulnerable to diseases. For drivers, lack of sleep can also be very dangerous: drowsy driving is the leading cause of accidents on the road. All of this is due to certain bad habits that we have and need to eliminate. Discover them below.
Eating a big meal Consuming a large amount of food before bedtime can increase the risk of indigestion during the night, according to the doctor. “It takes 90 minutes for 50% of the stomach to empty into the small intestine. The fuller the stomach, the higher the risk of acid reflux,” he explained to the British newspaper The Mirror. The health professional recommends waiting two to three hours after eating before going to bed.
Drinking too much alcohol in the evening Alcohol can facilitate falling asleep. Great! However, there is a price to pay: you may have a lower sleep quality. So, close to bedtime, it’s best to avoid alcohol. Don’t worry: a glass of red or white wine with dinner should not harm you.
Drinking a huge glass of water The body increases the production of the hormone ADH during sleep, which “retains water and reduces the urge to pee,” explained Dr. Rajan. “If you drink a lot of water before going to bed, you will wake up more often to go to the bathroom, and it disrupts your sleep,” he continued in the video.
Drinking coffee in the late afternoon Everyone has felt the stimulating effect of coffee. If you have trouble falling asleep, stop consuming coffee, as well as tea, in the mid-afternoon. Why? It takes several hours for the body to completely eliminate caffeine. Also, some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. It’s up to you to judge.
A too-warm bed The body temperature usually reaches its peak around 7 p.m. before decreasing throughout the night, according to the doctor. However, if your bed or room is too warm, this natural cycle could be disrupted. “There is an increase in melatonin production at the beginning of your sleep at night,” he said. “In fact, our body needs to cool down to fall asleep faster.”
