Fitness Trackers for Sleeping

Earlier this week we talked about fitness trackers as a whole – how they can help keep you fit, and informed about your daily exercise habits. However, that's not all there is to these devices. They can also monitor your sleep. They'll keep track of just how much you're getting, how deep you're able to sleep, and how often you're moving or stirring at night. Just by wearing the device. Then each morning, leaving you with a comprehensive rest report.

For those who sleep without issue, this might seem unnecessary; you know how well you slept as soon as you woke up. But it's not that easy for everyone. Generally, those who have sleeping disorders don't even know that they have them. They might know they're tired or that they have a hard time staying rested, but they won't know specifics. 

Armed with such information, it can be much easier to diagnose a sleeping disorder, and to find out why you are unable to stay rested in the first place. Keep track of your sleeping patterns to create an extensive overview. You can also send this info to your doctor or sleep specialist to arm them enough data for an accurate diagnosis.  

Should You Track Your Sleep?

If you suffer from a sleeping condition, or are worried about the amount of rest you get at night, sleep tracking can be great place to start. It will help you determine your daily patterns and what might be wrong in the first place. 

They're also easy and affordable ways to add to your health, to check if your sleeping treatments are working, and to follow up when they aren't. For those worried about overall sleep patterns and schedules sleep tracking can be a great way to go. 

Talk to your healthcare professional or check back in for more information. 

Continue Reading

5 Sleeping Disorders and Celebrates Who Have Them

It's true – celebrities are just like everyone else, you can even ask People Magazine. That's a mantra that's true even with sleeping disorders. Whether you suffer from one yourself or are looking toward keeping your nightly routine in check, take a look at these well-known sleep sufferers and how they help keep their conditions under control. 

Narcolepsy – Jimmy Kimmel

The comedian and late night talk show host has admitted to being extremely tired throughout the day, causing him to fall asleep often, especially in the afternoons. After being diagnosed and treating his narcolepsy with drugs, Kimmel has admitted his case is "fairly mild," and he actually benefits from its unique qualities, such as being able to fall asleep very quickly.  

Sleep Apnea, Shaquille O'Neal

Shaq's size is most often pointed as the cause of his sleep apnea, a fact he also agrees causes his loss of sleep. After being tired and with complaints of snoring from his girlfriend, he participated in a sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Shaq said he found relief with a nasal CPAP mask, after finding that other masks wouldn't fit his large figure.

Side note- Gene Simmons (Kiss bassist) was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea on his biopic "Family Jewels" TV series.  Here is a clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YIClbypooE

Snoring, Kevin Jonas

According to his wife, the Jonas brother snores far louder than the average person. Though the noise waves fluctuate, she admits to opting for the guest bedroom when his noises are unbearable. 

Sleepwalking, Jennifer Aniston

The actress says she has sleepwalked on a number of occasions, most often when under a large amount of stress or after not getting enough sleep. Tens of other famous folks attribute sleepwalking to their lack of routine. 

Insomnia, Madonna

The same goes for not being able to sleep. With stress and grueling schedules, Madonna, along with plenty other industry cohorts admit to difficulties falling asleep. Most agree that travel and inconsistent hours, along with schedules that are constantly changing, are some of the biggest offenders. 

Are you suffering from one of these sleeping orders? Consider lifestyle changes or talk with your doctor to find a personalized method to keep your sleeping habits under control.  

Continue Reading

What's the Ideal Sleeping Temperature?

You might have heard that it's better to sleep in a chilly room. You might even agree from personal experience. But did you know there is actually science behind this old wives' tale? And as to just how cool that room should be? The stats have been taken, the studies done, and the results are in – letting us know the absolute ideal sleeping temp each and every night. And the answer is … whatever is most comfortable, generally between 65 and 72 degrees. Much warmer or cooler and the body is more likely to wake frequently.

Due to different body types, sizes, and preferences, folks were shown to sleep deeper at different degrees. With their bodies also running at varied "norms." However, one thing remained in common: those who slept in a cooler room at night vs. what was comfortable during the day gained better rest. When your body sleeps, your core temperature actually goes down – because you're resting and working to save energy. It's a move that our body takes care of on its own. Achieving this lower temp is much easier when your house itself is chillier at night … vs. forcing the body to cool itself against your bedroom environment. 

These nighttime temps can be found by manually or auto setting a thermostat. Keep a small heater in your living space to add warmth while you're awake, or light a fire. It will raise the thermostat while you're up and aware of your degrees. Then once bedtime hits, the fire will have died down and the house will cool itself off overnight. Allowing you to rest even more soundly throughout the night. 

Look to these simple thermostat adjustments, and keep track of what range is most comfortable for you and your family, and earn access to a scientifically proven way to sleep better. 

Continue Reading

Do You Sleep Better with Noise?

Sleeping is a very personal experience. It's something that everyone approaches differently, and likely has their own way about achieving it. For instance, showering, wearing specific PJs, or reading. Maybe fluffing the pillows a certain way tells your mind it's time for rest, or turning on the ceiling fan and cocooning yourself in. These little adjustments sound small, but they ready the brain for sleep. We often do them subconsciously.

Other times our choices are very conscious. Like getting into bed and turning off the lights. Turning on a noise machine, perhaps. There is a large portion of the population who prefer noise to help them sleep. Or rather, to choose the noise they listen to at night, rather than to be woken up to different noise. 

Constant Sounds and Obtaining Rest

There are unpredictable noises that cause us to wake, like storms, horns, and loud neighbors. Other predictable noises, like house creaks and air vents generally allow us to stay resting; our bodies know those sounds are supposed to be happening. But by blocking out the unwanted noises – the random loudness that cause us to wake – you can save yourself from losing sleep. 

This can be done with white noise machines, fans, or even gentle music. Air purifiers or humidifiers/dehumidifiers are also viable choices for static backgrounds. Add relaxing scents, or simply let the noise work in your favor. These options are especially helpful when sleeping outside of the home. When you're not used to the traffic frequencies or whether each bump in the night is something normal. 

So, do you sleep better with noise? Yes, so long as it's the right noise. Blaring sounds are obviously detrimental, while calm and constant hums can help keep you relaxed and rested the entire night. 

Continue Reading

Are Nighttime Sleep Aids Safe?

For years medicines have been helping people sleep. Whether they were prescribed or sold over the counter, these concoctions were specifically designed to help folks get to sleep – and stay asleep – at night. Especially for those who have a history of wakefulness. There are even a number of natural sleep aids that provide similar results through the use of herbs and other non-chemical ingredients. But with all of these sleep aid options, how can we know if they’re safe? Or which ones are safer than others? 

Because of the very nature of what they’re providing, these medicines have the potential to cause very serious side effects. In general, the body is set to fall asleep naturally, and chemicals of any kind that work to jar one into forceful sleep are doing so with potent substances or chemicals designed to alter the body’s responses. Even when that sleep is welcome. In fact, for some, the idea of sleep is so extraordinary that it doesn’t matter in what form it’s had, including the forceful kind. 

Potential Side Effects

When taking a sleep aid, remember that many of these drugs haven’t been tested for long-term use. So, while they might be safe to consume every once an awhile, regular use might cause outside effects. Their presence can also make it more difficult for the body to fall asleep on its own. Therefore, the more you use a sleep aid in order to fall asleep, the harder it can actually become to fall asleep naturally – an ironic series of events.

Before taking a medicine to bring on sleep, consider looking at a few of the ingredients. Perform a Google search to see if they’ve caused any negative headlines, or talk to your doctor about the potential risk(s) that are associated with each sleep-aid substance.  

Continue Reading

Natural Ways to Encourage Sleep

Getting a good night’s rest can completely change the course of your day. Because you feel rested rather than groggy, you’re able to get an earlier start, have more energy, and begin the day with gusto. When sleep doesn’t come, however, that same energetic morning start is practically impossible.

So how do you get to sleep when it won’t happen naturally? Medications can be too strong and leave you groggier than you were tired, and counting sheep becomes boring while offering little results. But what if there were natural, effective methods to follow? Ones that could train the body to know when it’s time to get to sleep each night?

Better Sleep From Daily Habits
By following healthier practices as a rule, studies have shown folks get more sleep on a regular basis. Even those that tossed and turned before. This means healthier meals and regular movement, each of which offers their own contribution to nighttime rituals. Healthier meals means the body isn’t straining to digest heavy foods, which can cause pains or other uncomfortable functions when trying to sleep. As for exercise, this helps stretch and work the muscles, also tiring them out for the night.

Other natural factors include eating several hours before bedtime (so that foods have plenty of time to settle), and going to sleep at the same time each night. Obviously some exceptions have to be made, but when winding down around the same time each day, the body naturally learns when it’s time to sleep. This eliminates the fight that can occur when you’re tired, but the rest of you doesn’t quite agree. [NPR]

From improving eating and movement routines, as well as scheduling out a clear bedtime, one’s sleep can be greatly improved. Consider these minor, yet effective, changes to get a better night of rest.  Take care of your back and body during sleep with these products from Contour Living

Continue Reading

Beat Summer Allergens with Sleeping Habits

This time of year, breathing in the outdoor air can cause some serious side effects. Like sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and a number of other unattractive bodily functions. Much like the Disney dwarf, Sneezy, it just can’t be helped. No matter how many times a breath is held, a finger put under a nose, or just plugged all together, the sneeze still comes. From pollen, to dust, to ragweed, the warmer months bring on all types of irritating allergens. There’s little poor Sneezy and the rest of the allergic population can do.

Obviously, the easiest way to avoid these plants is to stay inside. But being cooped up all day is no fun, and by the time the allergies have passed, there may not be pleasant weather to enjoy. Medicines and other doctor treatments can help as well, but why not attack allergies from the inside out?

By adjusting sleeping habits, it’s easy to get a good night of rest, even when allergies are in full swing.

Staying Allergy Proof

·      Sleep with hypoallergenic supplies

• By ensuring pillows, blankets, mattresses, etc. are free from irritating substances, it’s easy to keep one’s bedroom breath-easy able. Opt for hardwood floors rather than carpets or rugs, or keep carpets clean by shampooing and vacuuming regularly. Air vents can also be vacuumed to remove dust or other nasty allergens. 

·      Adjust posture

• Propping up one’s head with an extra pillow, or using aspecialized neck or head support can help open up the sinuses … even when allergies are running amuck. This can also increase comfort for the nose and throat when excess drainage becomes present.

·      Stock up on tissues

• Keeping tissues or cough drops on hand can help ease the side effects of nasty allergies. 

·      Keep the windows closed

• Even on nice, calm nights, it may just be best to keep the windows shut. If fresh air can cause painful or uncomfortable side effects, keep the AC running rather than propping open the bedroom window.

·      Find the best sleeping position

• Sleeping on one’s back is great for some, while it can cause others to cough during the night. Try resting on the side or stomach to find a position that promotes the easiest breathing patterns.

·      Get a good night’s rest

• Though allergies don’t generally mean a person is “sick,” that doesn’t mean the body is under any less duress. Because your lungs are breathing in substances that have a foreign reaction, the body creates allergies to try and ward them off. This can make you tired, groggy, and in need of more rest. Be sure to catch plenty of sleep whenever allergies strike.

Continue Reading

Can Sleeping Habits Cause Headaches?

For most, sleeping is a time meant for both resting and relaxation. It’s comfy, a necessity, and often a treat at the end of a long day. Sleeping also allows bodies to recharge and gear up for new activities, while giving the brain a much needed break. If un-restful, however, it’s possible to wake up feeling tired, groggy, or in pain. All from not getting the proper amount of rest.

One of the most common post-sleep complaints are headaches. Despite having given the body the sleep it needs, people can still wake with head pain. For some, it can even become a chronic condition, greatly affecting their work and personal lives.

But what’s the cause? Can sleep – when interrupted – actually cause more health problems than it helps prevent? How can something meant for rest work against one’s health?  

Possible Headache Triggers

There are various stages of sleep, and waking in the middle may interrupt the brain from producing “feel good” chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals work to put the body in balance through health and attitude. But when woken too early, these levels can get out of whack, possibly leading to migraines or other milder headaches. The level of each headache can depend on a person’s specific chemical balance, their sleeping habits, and more. [WebMD]

As for sleeping with three pillows, or with one’s head in a jackknife position – that’s probably not helping pain levels either. Necks are sensitive areas, and straining them for long periods of time – even if it’s “comfortable” can cause pain later on. This fix could be as simple as purchasing a new pillow that offers better support for the head or neck.

However, with chronic or frequent headaches, it’s always important to talk to a doctor about what could be causing the pain. Between their expertise and the proper sleeping equipment, rest-induced headaches can be greatly reduced.

Ready for that new bed pillow?  Take a look at our Contour Cloud Pillow - It's our best selling bed pillow!

Continue Reading