They say that too much of anything is bad, and sleep is no exception. Though sleep is part of our natural daily processes, it must be regulated in the right manner. A failure to follow these processes would surely result to consequences. In fact, it can actually lead to different medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. It could also result to a condition known as hypersomnia, which can be described as having excessive amounts of sleepiness. Here are some problems that can be associated with oversleeping.
Excessive Weight Gain
This actually is quite logical. By sleeping longer, you are unable to use the energy you’ve been gaining through the consumption of food. Because of this, you consistently gain weight with every extra hour you spend sleeping. Excessive and continuous oversleeping, coupled with an inactive lifestyle, could lead to obesity.
Back Pains
Staying too long on your back will definitely bring you problems. And when you oversleep, you’re on your back for an additional number of hours. Though sleep can be a great solution to back pain, regular exercise is needed as well. If you have scoliosis or constant back spasms, you should consider becoming more active. So don’t spend too much time on the bed!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Why Too Much Sleep is Bad Too | Uratex Blog
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Good or Bad: Sleeping With the Lights On | Uratex Blog
The truth behind my disrupted sleep is finally unveiled! For years, I thought it was normal for me to be waking up every 2 to 3 hours or so. I seldom sleep for 7 hours straight. Because I naturally wake up early, I was succumbed to believe that I was simply a light sleeper. Although recently, I was baffled with how I was waking up every single hour. By the time the sun was up, I could immediately feel the result of my lack of sleep, for I was feeling sluggish. I felt tired. Really tired.
Since high school, I was already accustomed to sleeping with the lights on because my room would be in a total black out if I turned the lights off (Yeah, yeah, I was a Scaredy Cat). It eventually turned into a habit, and I’m still kind of doing that. Turns out, it may not be a brilliant idea to sleep with the lights on.
Lights Screw Up Our Circadian Rhythm
When we talk about the Circadian Rhythm, this refers to our body processes: internal, biochemical, physiological and behavioral. These processes are affected by different aspects, one of which is the light-dark cycles of the world. Technically, our physiological self only reacts to what it feels. Normally, of course, we are awake during the day, and are supposed to be sleeping during the night. Daylight signals the suprachiasmatic nuclei (made up of tiny brain cells) to promote wakefulness. In a dark environment (like our bedrooms, minus the light), our body would produce melatonin, a hormone that triggers sleep.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The Types of Pillows | Uratex Blog
And so there you are. You’ve just bought a wonderful Uratex polyfoam mattress. (Good choice, I must say.) You’ve got the right size, and you’ve got the most important ingredient for a decent good night’s rest. But you need to keep in mind one thing. Though it may well be the most important thing, the mattress is not the only ingredient. By now, I’m sure it’s quite obvious. Beds go with pillows. I’m sure it’s quite unimaginable to sleep soundly without the comfort of pillows, right? The bed is there. It’s very comfortable, but something is missing, don’t you think? It’s agreed, then. Pillows are a necessity for catching those Z’s.
So what now? Will you just go out there and grab the first pillow your wallet can afford? I don’t think that’s very wise. You can say they’re practically all the same, but not really. I want to introduce to you the different kinds of pillows out there in the market. You better know what’s out there before you actually get it. So here we go.
Friday, September 23, 2011
How to Best Cope with Jet Lags | Uratex Blog
Frequent travellers are sure to have frequent jet lags, but there are a lot of ways to prevent them as to also minimize the trouble of not getting enough sleep. Nobody likes to miss out on enjoying their trip. Before you even embark on your plane trip, I suggest you consider some things on how to best cope with jet lags.
Firstly, you could bring a second watch to keep track of the different time frames. Or, if your watch is more advanced, you could enable its dual clock settings to show the time of the country you are going to, so that if you are travelling to London or entering a different time zone, you are set. Once you land, rely on the adjusted watch that you have. Also, make sure that you are in good physical condition. Make sure that you have done some exercise days before your flight and as well on the day itself.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
3 Comfortable Things I Think Of To Help Me Sleep | Uratex Blog
I’m here to share with you the thoughts that go inside my head when I have trouble falling asleep. These things are relatively advantageous to me, but it can help you too. There are plenty of things I think about when I’m idle during the daytime, not to mention the things I reflect upon when I’m about to sleep. As a child, I remember thinking of things that I should ponder or worry about.
I remember the stories that my parents used to tell me way back when I was around 5 or 6 years old. I used to share with them my childhood crises where I would worry about how I’ll be able to pay the electric bills when I grow up, and how I might never be able to get married. Yes, these things are true – you can ask both my parents about it. I’ve always been the one who thinks of literally ALL the possible scenarios that could happen when I’m anticipating any given situation. More often than not, that “any given situation” I’m referring to usually just involves “tomorrow”.
I believe it’s common for all people, such as myself, to reflect upon various things before sleeping. However, you need to be careful about the thoughts that you let inside your head. I’m sure that you don’t want to stress yourself out mentally or emotionally by dealing with very grave issues. For me, I try to consider comfortable things – things that will make me happy and keep me well away from stress. However, I don’t stretch things so far to the point of lying to myself, saying that all is well even though some things are not. It’s just a matter of appreciation.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Myth or Fact: Showering When Sleepy Impairs Eyesight | Uratex Blog
Showering, in general, serves a whole lot of health benefits. Whether you use hot or cold water, it will leave you refreshed and de-stressed after stepping out of the shower. Your hair looks shinier, you skin feels softer and your muscles simply feel loose. Ultimately, you feel… relaxed. These are just some of the obvious benefits of a good shower. But, besides the good things that showering can offer, can it also have bad effects on our body?
We often relate showering to sleep. Do people shower in preparation for sleeping or, do they shower to avoid feeling sleepy? Whatever the case is, people still do it. So, will your eyes be damaged if you shower while in a state of sleepiness and stress? This article shall prove or disprove that myth.
So far, there are no certain studies correlating the human eyes to showering, whether it is a benefit or a bad effect. Universally, showering is a good thing. A couple of minutes in the comfort room and you will step out clean and fresh! Personally, I do not feel that there is a harmful threat in showering. One sign of sleepiness is the presence of heavy eyelids, and some people think that if they get wet it, will have a bad effect on our sight.
Myth or Fact: Sleeping When Hungry Causes Nightmares | Uratex Blog
I’m sure that there has been a time before where we went to bed hungry. We’ve seen children in books and movies who have experienced this when an angry parent would reprimand them and shout, “You shall have no supper, go to your room!” Is this healthy for us, and can it cause nightmares?
There have been a lot of myths surrounding this, and I think it is about time to finally decide: Is this a myth or a fact? So far, a lot of studies have proven that although it is not inclined to give you nightmares, it is however, bad for us. This is especially true for people who are highly acidic. In the same light, sleeping with a full stomach makes you suffer indigestion. In general, however, nightmares are usually caused by emotional stress such as anxiety, fear and as well as real life trauma. What you eat or do not eat may add to the cause of the nightmare. Certain studies state that having a nightmare is our way of coping with the stress in our lives or anything that has happened to us for the day.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Why Bedtime Stories Help Kids Sleep Better | Uratex Blog
Ever met a kid who doesn’t get excited at the thought of bedtime stories before sleeping at night? I even know some adults who would occasionally wish that they could go back to their early days so they could, once again, experience the joy and peace that bedtime stories caused within their hearts. There’s something really peculiar about bedtime stories, and today, we shall try to find out the reasons behind the appeal of these nighttime activities.
Last May 2010, an organization called sleepbetter.org had their survey that tired to discover how much more sound a child would sleep when they have bedtime stories before lights out. The survey concluded that a high percentage of parents said that bedtime stories led their children to a deeper and more comfortable sleep. Parents testified that it was a significantly better activity than simply letting their kids stay in front of a television.
Many experts say that a child’s imagination is at its most active from two to seven years old. One parents said that her child can imagine herself eating just by holding a spoon and fork. Maybe a pacifier triggers the same kind of imagination, which can keep a kid busy without making any mess. Usually, this kind of gesture helps the infant to eventually fall asleep.
