Many people love summer because of the warm weather and long days. However, as enjoyable as this season can be, it has some downsides. You may even have trouble sleeping! This situation can be even worse if you have sleep apnea. What can you do to improve the quality of your rest this summer? This blog post contains some practical suggestions.
Use Blackout Curtains
Long summer days can delay the release of sleep-inducing hormones throughout your body; that is because light naturally keeps people awake. As a result, you might end up going to bed too late and not getting all the shuteye you need.
One way to cope with this issue is by placing blackout curtains in your bedroom. They can block out up to 99% of incoming light, so you can go to sleep and wake up when it is most beneficial for your body.
Stay Cool
Most people sleep best in a slightly cool environment, so it is easy to understand why hot summertime temperatures can make it difficult to get high-quality rest. You may find that you get better sleep when you adjust your AC to keep you a bit colder.
Alternatively, if you do not have AC or are concerned about energy consumption, you can try using cooling bed sheets or sleeping next to a fan. Placing some ice in front of the fan can also help you to stay cool.
Manage Your Social Calendar
Do you have lots of social engagements planned this summer? Whether you love concerts in the park or going out with friends for drinks, it can be too easy to stay out well past the time when you should be in bed. Try to set a consistent bedtime and stick to it. Even though that might require you to rearrange your social calendar, it will be worth it!
Do Not Eat Too Late
Long, busy days make some people slip into the habit of eating late at night. Unfortunately, eating too close to bedtime can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Try to plan your last meal or snack so you have a few hours to digest before you lie down for the night.
Plan Your Vacation Carefully
Do you plan to travel to a different time zone this summer? If so, try to leave some wiggle room in your schedule so your body can adjust to a different routine (both when you arrive at your destination and when you come home). Allowing extra time for rest can ensure that you do not miss out on precious sleep.
Of course, you should also make sure that you bring your sleep apnea treatment on your trip. If your CPAP is too bulky to travel with, consider talking to a sleep dentist to find out if you are a candidate for a convenient oral sleep appliance.
Getting enough sleep during summer can be challenging! Use the above tips to protect your rest throughout this busy and exciting season.
Meet the Practice
At Go to Sleep Center for CPAP Alternatives, our team of experts is proud to help patients achieve better rest via oral appliance therapy. If you have sleep apnea and want to learn how you may be able to enjoy higher-quality sleep this summer and well into the future, we would love to speak with you. Contact our Scottsdale office at 623-254-7433.
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