ANCSLEEP BLOG

Meditation can be a very helpful technique for improving focus, reducing stress and anxiety, and a variety of other benefits. However, it is often harder to do than one may think because of the level of focus that it requires. Therefore, even though it's a helpful practice, it's often not utilized. 

An alternative, however, is non-sleep deep rest, or NSDR. NSDR is used by Google CEO, and every since he mentioned it in his interview, many have been wondering what NSDR is, and how to do it. Below is some more insight on what it is and how to practice it yourself. 

As cold and flu season approaches, it's important to understand the important role that sleep plays on our immune system. Some infections are getting more and more resistant to the medications we have and are getting more difficult to treat. Certain strains of bacteria, viruses and fungi are so mutated and resistant to our medications that they are referred to as superbugs. 

Superbug infections kill almost a million people every year, and it causes more than 2.8 million cases in the US every year with 35,000 deaths. These numbers can only grow as these bugs become more and more resistant. 

Some of the most common are carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae klebsiella and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). They post a threat to daily life and are especially dangerous to those with suppressed immune systems - autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, etc. 

Sleeping may be one way that we can help ward off these superbugs. Continue reading for more information. 

A lot of our content focuses on what not getting enough sleep looks like, which is important because a majority of people do not. However, it's also important to know what the signs are if you are getting enough sleep because you probably are practicing some positive habits that you should aim to maintain.

Below, we are going to discuss signs that you're getting enough sleep, and if you recognize them, then continue doing what you're doing (if it's healthy). If you do not have any, or many, of the signs below, then you may need to make some adjustments to improve your sleep. 

When you are working on getting more sleep, it's important to think about sleep quality as well as sleep quantity. We overwhelmingly emphasize the importance of getting a certain number of hours of sleep, which is always a great goal. However, if you are tossing and turning during these hours, or lying awake, then you are not getting the intended benefit from them.

Therefore, as you make a goal to get into bed at a certain time and wake 7-8 hours later, it's important to also make sure that you are getting good quality of sleep as well. Here are some tips to think about as you are trying to get quality rest. 

While traveling, it can be extremely difficult to get a good night's rest. The car could be uncomfortable, the planes have little leg room, and trains can just be very loud. Either way, when you're traveling a long journey, getting some sleep may be necessary. Here are some tips on how to get the best sleep that you can while traveling. 

Postpartum depression happens to about 1 and 8 mothers in the United States. It occurs after birth and can last for a variable amount of time. Baby blues lasts for only a short time after birth and is caused by the various fluctuations in hormones. However, postpartum depression can last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. 

It can even begin before the birth of the child and involves sleeplessness, depression, a lack of attachment to your child, feelings of isolation, and even psychosis which can endanger the lives of your and your child. It's important to get help for postpartum, and sleep plays a very large role in that. 

Older adults commonly have sleep troubles, mostly due to physiological changes that can interrupt normal sleep patterns, but sometimes due to underlying disorders that can manifest into insomnia. It's important to identify these underlying disorders for accurate treatment. Sleep aids can have detrimental effects in elderly adults, so if they can be avoided through accurate diagnoses, then that will be better for their health. 

Below are some common underlying disorders that can negatively affect health. If you think one of these impacts you or a loved one, then it's important to speak with your primary care physician immediately. 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint disease. The immune system is overactivated and begins to attack some of the tissues of the person impacted. Sleep issues impact more than 80% of those with RA, as fatigue is the main reported symptom. Here is some more information on how RA impacts sleep and vice versa, as well as some techniques to help alleviate the impact that one has on the other.

Substance abuse disorders and addiction are complicated diseases that involve the overwhelming desire or craving for drugs, alcohol, and other medications of abuse. Addiction and substance abuse disorders can cause turmoil for the individual, families, and can even result in permanent debilitation and death. 

Connections between substance abuse and mental health disorders have been well established, as well as mental health disorders and sleep disturbances. However, now researchers are starting to draw connections between sleep disturbances and substance use disorders. The causes of addiction are multifactorial and include both environmental and biochemical alterations, but sleep may play a key role in the development of addiction. Continue reading to find out more about this relationship. 

Hydration is important, and is connected to the types and amounts of liquid that you consume. However, when traveling, it's easy to overindulge in drinks that we normally wouldn't because of how much traveling can throw off our normal schedule. We may consume less water, and find ourselves drinking more unhealthy beverages. Unfortunately, poor drink choices on vacation can lead to dehydration which can impact sleep even more than traveling already does. Continue reading to find out more about this relationship and how you can help yourself get better sleep on vacation.