According to the American Sleep Association, at least 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders every year and 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems.
Common sleep disorders include Insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome, and Narcolepsy. A person suffering from any of these conditions can experience loss of sleep.
However, once correctly diagnosed, sleep disorders can be effectively managed. Your primary physician can help provide proper treatment to improve your quality of sleep and your quality of life.
Allergens are another factor that can affect sleep. These pollutants can live inside your mattress, bedding and pillows. Year-round allergy sufferers should evaluate their sleep environment to ensure it’s not contributing to the issue.
A few tips to reduce allergens:
- Clean your bedroom on a weekly basis. Treat floors, furniture, tops of doors, window frames/sills, etc. with a damp cloth.
- Regularly vacuum carpet and upholstery.
- Vacuum bed upholstery. Better yet, get a bed, such as the Sleep Number mattress which can be unzipped and cleaned inside.
- To kill dust mites, wash curtains often.
- Wash bedding weekly at 130+ degrees.
- Use allergen barrier covers for your mattress and pillows.
- If possible, undress in another room to avoid bringing outside allergens into the bedroom.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom. Sorry Fido and Fluffy!
- Keep room at a humidity level below 50 percent to reduce increases in dust mites and potential mold growth.
- Regularly launder stuffed animals.
More resources on the Barriers to Sound Sleep
