7 Tips For Better Sleep

When life gets busy, it's tempting to try to squeeze more into a day by shaving off a few hours of sleep each night. Dr. Beth Price of MUSC Health Primary Care - Carnes Crossroads is here to tell us to "Resist the urge!" Getting less than the recommended amount of sleep each night can have negative short- and long-term health effects.

Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep per night. The younger you are, the more you need, with newborns needing 14 to 17 hours and teenagers needing 8 to 11 hours. If you need an alarm clock, are groggy in the mornings, or have to "catch up" on sleep over the weekend, you're likely not getting enough quality sleep.

Long-term, inadequate sleep increases your risk for hypertension, obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes. It can affect your mood, concentration, immune system, and even libido in the short term. Many motor vehicle accidents occur each year due to driver fatigue.

How to Get Better Sleep

1) Make it a priority, like work, family, exercise, or taking medicine.
2) Stay on a schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
3) Make your bedroom conducive to getting good sleep--quiet, relaxing, dark, and cool.
4) Turn off electronics (tv, smartphone, tablet) at least an hour before bed.
5) Get daily exercise and outdoor time.
6) Minimize caffeine late in the day and avoid excessive alcohol use.
7) If you have trouble sleeping or wake up in the middle of the night, don't look at the clock. Do something relaxing like reading a book, meditating, or listening to calming music for 20 minutes. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help as well.

If you still have daily fatigue, we recommend talking to your primary care doctor. There could be something more serious going on, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Happy zzzz's!

Schedule A Doctor's Appointment in Summerville with Dr. Price
Dr. Beth Price is accepting new patients in Summerville at our Carnes Crossroads office. Dr. Price sees patients of all ages and loves being able to treat multiple family members over many years. She feels very strongly about preventive health and treating the whole patient - healthy sleep included! Schedule an appointment with Dr. Price by calling 843-876-7930.