Sleep Dunwoody Blog

Receiving enough sleep on a regular basis is essential for proper mental and physical health. But easier said than done, right?! If you tend to struggle with achieving enough rest, you might be all too familiar with the various sleep aids on the market. 

The habits you do (or don’t) implement throughout the day have a big impact on your sleep quality at night. You may never have considered how these collective “sleep hygiene” habits affect your sleep, but now’s the time to start. Good sleep is critically important for your health and overall quality of life.

Everyone has a preferred sleeping position — maybe yours is curled up like a baby, over on your belly, or straight on your back. But have you considered how your snoozing habit could impact the quality of your sleep? It’s especially important to think about how you lie if you have sleep apnea. Consider the pros and cons of each sleeping position.

In case you haven’t heard, weighted blankets are the latest and greatest craze in the sleep world. Filled with glass beads or plastic pellets and typically weighing between four and 25 pounds, these blankets place a sense of pressure on the body, relieving stress and creating a sense of calm. Everyone from those suffering from anxiety disorders to parents of children with ADHD are singing their praises. Could it be the solution to your sleep troubles? We take a look at the facts to see if weighted blankets have measurable benefits. 

Aromatic compounds can play a key role in a person’s mood, energy levels, focus, and sleep. Inhaling essential oils, specifically, can improve sleep quality as the chemicals in the oils interact with the body in various ways. If you frequently struggle with sleep and worry about using artificial sleep aids too often, then certain essential oils may be able to provide a natural way to help you get the rest you need.

We’ve all likely heard before that winding down at the end of a long day with a bath can help your sleep. But how exactly does the science behind that work? What is it about a warm bath that helps our bodies relax and get ready for bed? 

In June 2018, Barnes & Noble reported that book sales related to anxiety had gone up 26% when compared to the previous year. Whether nationwide anxiety is actually increasing or whether we’re just more aware of it, it’s definitely a prevalent issue. Who hasn’t felt anxious from time to time? But for some, anxiety is an always-present condition, and, as it turns out, anxiety and sleep are closely related. Recently, a group of scientists shared their findings on the relationship between the two, which may prove helpful for those curious about how to improve both anxiety and sleep deprivation.

Insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disorders, affecting one in four Americans every year. Characterized by difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep, all of us have probably experienced insomnia at least a time or two — and in fact, 75% of those who develop insomnia recover without experiencing persistent sleep issues. But for some, insomnia is chronic and lasting, affecting daily life. It’s a serious issue that should be addressed, and its effects on the body are no joke. 

The recommended amount of sleep for adults is 7-9 hours per night, and yet, if you’re like many, you receive less than this amount on a regular basis — and are therefore clinically qualified as “sleep-deprived.” And sleep deprivation is a health condition with serious concerns if left unchecked. Still, you probably don’t blink at an hour (or several hours) of lost sleep during the week… because it can just be made up on the weekend, right? As it turns out, this “common sense” approach may not be so sensible at all, leaving you susceptible to the very consequences of sleep deprivation that you’re hoping your Saturday/Sunday snoozefest will help you avoid. Oof!

We all feel better, and more ourselves, when we get a solid night’s sleep. But for a lot of us, that fact alone isn’t enough to change our habits. Despite feeling noticeably more focused and alert when we’ve rested well the night before, we still relentlessly do the very things that disrupt our sleep: checking emails right before we shut our eyes, drinking alcohol late at night, and keeping pets in our bedroom while we sleep.