Hello,
This is Dr. Raj Kakar, the founder of the Dallas Center for Sleep Disorders.
I’m a board certified doctor (M.D., M.P.H., D.ABSM, FACP) in both Internal Medicine and Sleep Health.
Over the course of my career, I’ve personally seen how the quality of sleep can impact my patients’ overall health, quality of life and safety.
Now, it may be a bit hard to believe, but these sleep disturbances may be a result of stress, illness, or phones & TV in the bedroom.
In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about one third or slightly over 100 million US adults get less than the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep.
If this sounds familiar to you, don’t worry, you're not alone. It’s actually quite common to experience sleep disturbance at one time or another in life.
If this sounds familiar to you, don’t worry, you're not alone. It’s actually quite common to experience sleep disturbance at one time or another in life.
It’s important to understand that sleep deprivation is linked to several serious health issues, including obesity, chronic disease, low testosterone, atrial fibrillation, ED, depression and heart disease.
The other problems caused by inadequate sleep include impairment at work, memory problems and high risk of car accidents.
Other issues include:
● Shortness of breath
● Insomnia
● Fatigue and exhaustion
● Headaches
● Sleepwalking
● Obesity
Get Better Sleep With These 5 Simple Tricks
1) Keep Your Room Dark At Night
While it can be really tempting to open all of the blinds to keep from feeling like a hermit during the day, it’s not going to lead to a good night's sleep.
The last thing you want when you’re tired and going to bed is a warm, stuffy room. Instead you want a cool cozy one, and good blackout shades or blinds will be a huge help.
Knocking out both heat and light will make sure that your body gets the signal that it’s time to relax.
2) Follow a Fixed Wake Up Time
Research studies and experience has shown that waking up around the same time every day helps to set your circadian rhythm (or sleep-wake schedule). That is very helpful for people who have trouble getting to sleep at night.
By keeping a regular daily wake time (yes, that includes weekends!), you are more likely to become sleepy at around the same time every night.
3) Lighter Meals Can Help You Fall Asleep Faster
Grilled meats, salty hot dogs, stews and chili and the like are much heavier than our bodies might otherwise like at night.
It takes energy to metabolize food, and the closer you eat tough-to-digest food to bedtime, the more likely you are to feel wired and uncomfortable.
Try to stick to light, fruit-and-vegetable heavy meals that are easier to digest.
4) The Right Sheets are the Key to Comfort
At some point, I think we all know what it’s like to throw your sheets off during the night, flip your pillow over a dozen times, and fling your arms and legs out just to cool off a little.
Cotton, bamboo, and linen are all great choices.
However stay away from: Silk, flannel, wool, jersey, satin, and fleece.
Oh, and it goes without saying that your fabric choices in bed will pay off if you extend them to your pajamas, too!
5) Choosing the Right Pillow for Optimal Sleep
After years of reviewing sleep studies, I learned that the traditional flat pillow just isn’t effective. They get hot, and lose their shape quickly, which eliminates any support they may have initially provided.
I found that the majority of my patients couldn’t find a pillow that matched their needs. Those who wear CPAP masks kept getting noisy air leaks. Others who snore at night couldn’t seem to get comfortable.
I knew there had to be a better design, so after much thought and research I developed the groundbreaking Kakar Pillow!