Catch Some Zzzzz's

Did you know that poor sleep is associated with an increased risk of obesity and high blood pressure, according to the National Institutes of Health? Additional research links sleep disorders to higher risk of heart problems and diabetes. Needless to say, sleep is probably more important to our overall health than we realize.

Here are a couple quick tips to sleep better and improve your overall well-being:

-Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night (uninterrupted if possible). Count backwards from when you need to wake up in the morning to determine the time you need to be asleep each night.

-Go to bed at the same time (roughly) each night. A good routine helps your body adjust.

-Keep your bedroom cool, comfortable, and dark.

-Turn off electronic devices 30 minutes before bed. If you must use them to fall asleep (ie. Kindles, ebooks, etc.) use low blue light modes / nighttime modes on your device or wear blue light blocking glasses.

-Don't eat a large meal at bedtime; being too full can keep you from resting well.

-Exercise regularly and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.

-Avoid the intake of caffeine in the afternoon or evening, as well as medications called diuretics (also known as fluid pills or water pills), as these can make you urinate at night and keep you from sleeping soundly.

-Avoid consuming alcohol before bedtime. While alcohol is known to make people drowsy, the quality of sleep is significantly less with alcohol is consumed close to bedtime.