Getting Better Sleep

This is your 1^st issue in a 3-part e-mail series on sleep. This message was independently written by RealAge and contains third-party advertisements. Content in the e-mail or on Web pages linked from the e-mail is not endorsed by the third-party advertiser except those links clearly labeled so. Read more about the high editorial standards of RealAge.

More ZZZs, Please
Do you wake up feeling refreshed and energized each morning? Or do you greet each day tired and groggy? If it's the latter, you could have insomnia. But insomnia might not be exactly what you think. And the kind of insomnia you have depends on your symptoms. Regardless, it's something you should pay attention to and manage properly because poor sleep can have serious consequences on your physical and emotional well-being.

From our advertiser, the makers of TYLENOL® PM: Discover how sleep can impact how you feel both physically and emotionally.

Different Types
What does insomnia look like? Most of us picture that night owl who sleeplessly stares at the ceiling the minute his head hits the pillow. And that's one way insomnia can manifest. But trouble staying asleep during the night, waking up too early and not being able to fall back asleep, and having just generally unrefreshing sleep are examples, too. If these sleep problems occur sporadically for just a month or so, doctors call it "acute" insomnia. But if they happen regularly over a longer period of time, it's considered "chronic" insomnia -- a harder problem to address. (How good is your sleep? Take this quick quiz to get a snapshot of your sleep quality and find out what's keeping you up at night.)

What's Keeping You Awake?
Poor sleep is a complicated issue and can have many causes -- or a combination of causes. It can result from triggers like stress, anxiety, travel, or changes in your schedule. Your sleep quality can deteriorate thanks to everyday choices, too, like how much coffee or alcohol you drink or how regularly you exercise. And poor sleep could have an underlying medical cause, such as a sleep disorder or depression, anxiety, pain from an injury or arthritis, breathing troubles from allergies and asthma, or gastrointestinal symptoms from heartburn or indigestion. Hormonal fluctuations and medications also could play a role in sleep quality. (Find out exactly how many hours of sleep you need for good health.)

From our advertiser, the makers of TYLENOL® PM: Learn why a good night's sleep helps you feel good and stay healthy.

Why You Need to Nip It in the Bud
If you suffer through occasional sleepless nights, pay attention. Over time, acute insomnia can turn into chronic -- or "learned" -- insomnia. And whether your problems are occasional or chronic, getting adequate sleep is as important to your health as eating a good diet and exercising is. Poor sleep has been tied to everything from weight gain to high blood pressure and heart disease. (Here's more on the health consequences of poor sleep.)

Break the Cycle
If poor sleep has been plaguing you lately, it's time to break the cycle before your problems turn into chronic insomnia -- a trickier condition to manage than occasional insomnia. The best way to nip insomnia in the bud is to talk to your doctor about your sleep troubles and start making lifestyle changes aimed at improving sleep quality. (Step one: Practice the good sleep hygiene habits on this list to fall asleep faster.)

Look for future issues of this newsletter series to provide you with specific tips and strategies for managing insomnia and minimizing the toll that poor sleep takes on your health.

Struggling with your weight? Find out how a good night's sleep can help.

From our advertiser, the makers of TYLENOL® PM: Are minor aches and pains keeping you awake at night? TYLENOL® PM relieves your pain fast so you can sleep better.

Newsletters are periodically e-mailed to RealAge members who have taken the RealAge Test and have expressed an interest in receiving health information. The RealAge Test is a science-based health assessment that calculates your biological age -- or RealAge -- and includes an Age Reduction® Plan overview.

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