Sleep problems affect a number of North Americans. The average person has an irregular sleep schedule, due to personal obligations, emergencies, crisis, poor sleep management or a sleep disorder. However, very few people understand that getting regular sleep, and enough of it, is critical to a person’s health. The average person requires eight hours of sleep per night in order to stay healthy. The total number of hours a person needs to sleep is highly dependent on their personal chemistry, but on average, a person cannot stay healthy on less than six hours of sleep. The brain loses function and can be damaged permanently by person’s broken sleep patterns. Sleeping at irregular times of day can also be very detrimental to a person’s health and longevity. Some of the most common sleep problems are as follows:
- Stress. Nothing wrecks a sleep schedule like stress, because it throws off the body’s chemistry and hormone balance.
- Undisciplined sleep patterns. Many people have the childish problem of “just wanting to stay up another hour” for whatever reason, but this habit can vastly affect physical and mental health.
- Sleep disorder. A true sleep disorder is not the fault of the person who has it, but it is their responsibility to manage it properly.
Being unable to sleep or simply mismanaging a sleep schedule takes a heavy toll on a person’s day to day life. It is very important for people with broken sleep habits to change their ways and learn how to sleep in a healthy way. Some of the ways a person can combat sleep problems and get back onto a healthy sleep schedule is:
- Eliminate stress. Easier said than done, but coming to manage the stress in your life will result in better sleep.
- Take a sleep schedule seriously. Plan one out for yourself and follow it diligently every night.
- Consider lifestyle, diet and exercise. The food you out, your exercise regimen and how balanced your lifestyle are all affect your sleep patterns.
- Receive treatment for a sleep disorder. Do not suffer through a sleep disorder on your own. Receive help from your doctor.