Sleep Apnea and Dementia and 13 Tips for a Better Nights Sleep

1. Normalize your sleep schedule. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning. Keeping regular hours helps your brain know when to rest and when to be alert. We evolved to sleep with the fall and rise of the sun. An erratic sleeping schedule interferes with the daily hormonal processes that help facilitate restful sleep.
2. Avoid eating late at night. When your gastrointestinal system is working to digest food, you dont sleep as deeply and are more likely to wake up. These foods can be especially disruptive to sleep:

1. 1. Avoid certain drinks too close to bedtime. Caffeine can stay in your body for over eight hours. We recommend drinking coffee and other caffeinated drinks no later than 2pm. Other drinks to look out for include:

1. 1. Avoid exercising before sleep but be sure to exercise earlier in the day. A brisk walk in the morning has wonderful effects on your sleep. Getting out into the light helps set your circadian cycles and wakes you up for the day. Exercise has been shown in many studies to increase the depth of sleep. Walking after dinner (ideally at dusk) is also a great option. Your brain reacts to the changing light and naturally prepares for sleep. Be sure to complete exercise  especially intensive aerobic exercise  at least three hours before bedtime.
   2. Low light at night, bright light during the day. Your brain needs bright, natural light during the day, and softer light at night. If you find it hard to get adequate natural light, light boxes are a great solution. They provide twenty to forty times more light than regular lamps and mimic natural light. Many studies have proposed light therapy as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder and depression, but it can also help with the sleep-wake cycle. Light boxes should always be used in the morning  otherwise they could interfere with your sleep. Use only soft lights in your bedroom at night and turn off electronic devices that emit bright light.
   3. Avoid playing games, watching stimulating movies and working on your tablet in bed. The idea is to calm the brain, not rev it up. Try reading instead  something enjoyable but not too engrossing. It allows the mind to relax and helps you avoid the blue light in electronic devices that have been shown to interfere with sleep. Its best to reserve the bedroom for sleep and sex only.
   4. Avoid napping. For most of us, napping during the day will interfere with our ability to fall asleep at night. We dont recommend daily naps unless you have a long-standing habit of napping. Even then you should set an alarm so that you sleep no longer than ten to thirty minutes. Anything beyond that can result in sleep inertia, a groggy feeling after awakening that can impair performance. If youre trying to establish a regular sleeping pattern, we recommend that you stay awake during the day (unless sleepiness could put you or others in danger). Youll be tired enough at night that youll fall asleep earlier and faster, which will help you normalize your schedule.
   5. Use meditation. Meditation is a wonderful addition to your pre-bedtime routine. This powerful practice physiologically relaxes the body by slowing both breathing and heart rate and has also been proven to reduce stress.
   6. Sound and light-proof your bedroom. Both sound and light can wake you up and disrupt your sleep cycles, robbing you of the deep sleep your brain requires. Try using white noise or natural soft sounds. If you have consistent loud noise at home (like a neighbour with a baby crying), consider egg-crating the room and insulating the windows and doors. Blackout curtains are great for keeping your room dark.
   7. Get comfortable. Do you prefer a warm blanket or cool sheets? There seems to be a difference in temperature preference between men and women. Women tend to prefer a slightly higher temperature, men slightly cooler. It is certainly true with the two of us! We use dual blankets (one warmer and one cooler) so we can sleep together and also enjoy our preferred sleeping temperatures. There are also beds with dual temperature settings, and even pillows designed to maintain certain temperatures throughout the night. Because of hormonal fluctuations throughout the sleep cycle, the temperature pattern for the most restful sleep seems to be:

1. Address dependence on medications. Use these techniques under a doctors supervision to slowly reduce your need for medication.
2. Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) if necessary. Seek help from a qualified therapist if you are experiencing excessive anxiety or distorted sleep patterns. CBT is most effective for those who still experience anxiety after trying both the relaxation techniques and sleep hygiene techniques. Anxiety that doesnt respond to any of these techniques may require an initial round of therapy.
3. Look for signs of sleep apnea. If you suspect you might have this common sleep disorder, ask your doctor to order a sleep study (this is the only way to know for sure). Review the results and then discuss the best solution for improving your sleep.

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