Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
These three pillars: eating, exercising, and sleeping, could have a dramatic effect on your daily activities. Since spring is a season of rebirth and renewal, now is the time to address sleep issues and remove sleep irregularities. Dr. Christine Tenaglia, an East Lansing dentist that treats sleep apnea, has over 25 years of experience helping patients manage their sleep apnea. Today, Tenaglia Smiles is sharing how to reset your sleep habits this spring.
Reset Your Sleep Habits By Avoiding These
- Electronic Device Use at Bedtime – Most people are guilty of looking at their phones right before trying to go to sleep. However, there are multiple reasons why it is important to shut off the television, computers, tablets, and mobile phones an hour before bed. Most devices emit a blue light that signals the pineal gland to stop producing the natural sleep hormone melatonin. The absence of melatonin in your bloodstream could cause difficulties falling asleep. Also, the material often viewed on the devices is designed to keep your attention and stimulate your brain, preventing you from falling asleep. Your leading sleep apnea dentist in Lansing at Tenaglia Smiles advises patients to establish a bedtime routine that does not involve electronics.
- Midnight Snacks – Sometimes, when people have a difficult time sleeping, eating becomes a natural solution. Unfortunately, eating before bed interrupts your circadian rhythm, which could result in bloating or indigestion. For those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), eating late at night could cause gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn, causing you to wake up and may keep you awake through the night. Your educated dentist in East Lansing at Tenaglia Smiles advises keeping late-night snacking to a minimum, small, and easy to digest to reduce sleep interruptions. Also, remember to brush your teeth after consuming the snack, so cavity-causing bacteria will be removed before you go to sleep.
- Evening Nightcaps – Cocktails before bed have been a tradition for some people who have trouble falling asleep. However, using alcohol to induce slumber does not address the root cause of the problem and could make falling and staying asleep more problematic. Even if your alcohol consumption does help you fall asleep, your body could naturally wake after the effects of the alcohol have worn off, and withdrawal symptoms begin. Withdrawal symptoms cause your body to release stress hormones and can wake you up entirely. Also, since alcohol has a diuretic effect, so you may find yourself waking in the middle of the night to use the restroom. Alcohol may interrupt your sleep and could be exasperated by sleep apnea. Therefore, Dr. Tenaglia recommends avoiding alcohol as a solution to induce sleep and encourages a calming activity such as breathing exercises or reading instead.
- Smoking or Vaping – It is not uncommon for smokers to feel that an evening cigarette before bed helps relax them. Even though nicotine has a relaxing effect, it is also a stimulant. No matter if you smoke cigarettes or vape, tobacco use aggravates the airways, resulting in breathing problems while sleeping. Tobacco users that have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or severe respiratory problems are most susceptible to sleep apnea and other sleep problems.
Sleep Apnea Treatment in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
Changing your habits before bed could help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. After you have tried to reset your sleeping patterns but still not sleeping well, it is time to see a sleep apnea specialist about your condition. Although only a sleep apnea specialist can diagnose sleep apnea, your qualified sleep apnea dentist in East Lansing, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, provides custom-made oral appliances to help reduce obstructed sleep patterns. To find out more or schedule a consultation, feel free to call (517) 347-6733 or schedule an appointment online today.