At the least, lack of sleep can be bad for your marriage:
- A 2012 survey showed that more than half of Americans surveyed crave sleep more than sex – As high as 80 percent of women are dying for some shuteye, even over sex.
- According to the Better Sleep Council, one in four married couples sleep in separate beds. While no doubt relational troubles account for some of this, sleeping problems like snoring, obsessive tossing and turning, or insomnia account for some of this.
- A 2012 sleep deprivation study reported that lack of sleep produces the same physical ailments as does intense emotional or psychological stress. Researchers learn that participants’ white blood cell counts went through the roof when the were deprived of sleep.
- Speaking of the physiological similarities between poor sleep and stress, a June 2012 study from University of California, Berkeley, tells us that not getting enough sleep actually generates stress in the form of anxiety – which becomes a vortex of trouble, since anxiety can lead to insomnia.
- At the Sleep 2012 Conference, results of a new sleep study revealed that inadequate sleep – less than six hours nightly – boosts your risk of having a stroke.
- A 2012 study presented at the American College of Cardiology reported that too much sleep can also hurt your heart health. The study confirmed that insufficient sleep creates health risk – specifically it doubles your risk of stroke or heart attack – but researchers also discovered that getting more than eight hours average per night increases your risk of coronary artery disease and doubles your angina risk.
Beyond physical risks from poor sleep, 2012 research using Los Angeles high school students revealed that those cram-for-the-exam all-nighters do more harm than good to student test results. The survey showed that grades were the worst among those who got the least amount of sleep from late-night last-minute test preparation.
And now the good news…
Five tips for a better night's rest
- Tip #1 – Create a buffer zone. If you aren't getting adequate sleep because of your spouse's frequent tossing and turning, get a body pillow to create an elbow-blocking barrier of protection.
- Tip #2 – Turn a deaf ear. Silence your partner's snorific schnozola by wearing a good pair of in-ear foam earplugs. The in-ear kind work well for sleeping, and also do a good job of muffling the snoring to a whisper. This is a safer and much less expensive solution to the noise problem than having your snoring partner go for a surgical fix.
- Tip #3 – Change your blanket policy. If you find you're getting less sleep because your tossing-and-turning bed buddy takes the sheets and blankets with them when they roll over, an easy remedy is a second blanket – one for each of you.
Tip #4 – Become a creature of sleep habit. Many studies have shown that going to bed and waking up at the same time aides in the functioning of your natural sleep/wake rhythm. As much as possible, make a habit of heading for bed at the same time each night, and your body will likely "get a clue," and start getting sleepy at that regular time. - Tip #5 – Create a routine. Establishing nightly go-to-sleep rituals can help bring on the sleep. These bedtime rituals can be simple and even pleasant. It's simply a matter of finding what works best for you, whether that is in evening bath, a certain type of music, a cup of tea or warm milk, dimming of the house lights, reading a book, or turning down the sheets. Your repeated routine can cause your sleep cycle to "click in."
Ric Moxley
Contributing Writer