How to improve sleep

While feeling a little sluggish every once in a while is normal, feeling tired a few days a week can be an ominous warning of things to come.

Lack of sleep can lead to high blood pressure, fatigue, memory loss anxiety, headaches, depression, sore throats and dry mouth. And that’s just in the short-term.

Long-term effects of sleep deprivation can be extremely serious: Congestive heart failure, stroke and diabetes, to name a few.

In order to maximize the amount of sleep achieved each night, work on sleep hygiene:

1. Have a relaxing pre-bedtime routine. Be sure to have your teeth brushed and are ready for bed before you start feeling drowsy.
2. Finish any workout routine a few hours before bedtime
3. Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed. Both will disrupt natural sleep.
4. Keep computers and televisions out of the bedroom—make the room focus on sleep.
5. Talk to your doctor if you have frequent trouble sleeping, or if you experience snoring. Snoring is very common, but it’s not normal. Any noise you make is a sign of obstruction and should be checked by a doctor.
6. If it’s a chronic problem, you may suffer from sleep apnea. Check doctor ratings on Angie’s List to find a local sleep center or neurologist that can schedule a sleep study.

USANA Pure Rest™ – support your good night’s sleep