ANCSLEEP BLOG

The Vital Connection: Sleep and Video Games

Posted by Darian Dozier on Feb 21, 2024 11:06:00 AM

In today's fast-paced digital era, video games have become an integral part of our lives. They provide entertainment, challenge, and a sense of accomplishment. However, with the increasing popularity and accessibility of gaming, it's important to understand the impact it can have on our sleep patterns. In this blog post, we will explore the relationship between sleep and video games, examining both the potential negative effects and some tips for maintaining a healthy sleep schedule while still enjoying gaming.

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Topics: sleep hygiene

What is Sleep Regression, and How to Handle it?

Posted by Darian Dozier on Sep 29, 2023 8:55:00 AM

You may be so excited when your baby starts sleeping through the night, and then very confused and frustrated when that suddenly stops. This is called sleep regression, and some babies to through it at various times of their development. Continue reading to learn more about what a sleep regression is, and what you can do about it to help you and your baby get better sleep. 

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Benefits of Reading Before Bed

Posted by Darian Dozier on Sep 27, 2023 8:16:00 AM

On this site, we talk a lot about sleep hygiene and creating a good sleep routine. One activity that is often recommended is reading a book before bed. Reading before bed is a fun, relaxing activity that often does not expose you to blue light (unless you read on an electronic device) and can help your brain wind down before bed. 

Continue reading to learn the benefits of reading before bed and other tips to help optimize this activity.

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Why Panic Disorder and Anxiety Cause Sleep Issues

Posted by Darian Dozier on May 29, 2023 6:55:00 AM

People with panic disorder and other anxiety-related disorders may struggle with obtaining a full night of restful sleep. Specific sleep comorbidities may include insomnia and panic attacks. There is a relationship between sleep problems and these anxiety disorders, where an exacerbation of one can lead to issues with the other. Continue reading to find out why panic disorder and anxiety cause sleep issues, and what you can do to mitigate your sleep disturbances. 

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How to Improve Your Poor Sleep Hygiene

Posted by Darian Dozier on May 24, 2023 7:25:00 AM

Sleep is important for a variety of reasons, but getting good sleep is not as easy as it seems. For some, sleep may actually seem impossible. For others, they may think they are getting good sleep, and think that it's normal to feel tired during the day. Although that midday slump hits, it is not normal to be excessively tired throughout the day. This is an indication of poor sleep. Although sleep disorders may be the cause of poor sleep, more often than not, poor sleep hygiene is. Unlearn some of those poor habits and begin sleeping well!

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Topics: sleep hygiene

What a Sleep Study Can Determine About Your Mental Health

Posted by Darian Dozier on May 22, 2023 7:26:00 AM

Sleep is vital for your overall health and mental health. Whether you aren't able to fall asleep easily, or experience too many waketimes throughout the night, the impact on your mental health can be severe. 

The brain does a lot of restoration and recharging throughout the night, during sleep. If sleep is fragmented, or simply doesn't happen, then this can increase the risk for mental health disorders, fatigue, and increased stress levels.

Sleep is essential, and your sleep habits can tell you a lot about your mental health. So what's the best way to learn your sleep habits? Through a sleep study. Continue reading to learn more about what a sleep study can help you determine about your mental health. 

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How Central Sleep Apnea Affects Mental Health

Posted by Darian Dozier on May 22, 2023 6:57:00 AM

Sleep plays a critical role in our lives, especially in terms of mental health and brain function. When sleep is disrupted, there are going to be negative consequences. Poor sleep can have severe effects mentally, emotionally, and physically. Significant health issues, like depression, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease are some serious consequences of poor sleep. Poor sleep can be caused by lifestyle and poor sleep behaviors, but in some, it can be caused by an underlying sleep disorder. 

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder where sleepers stop breathing periodically throughout the night. It can be categorized into three different types: obstructive, central, and mixed. Obstructive sleep apnea is very common, while central is more rare. 

Learn why central sleep apnea occurs, and it's potential affect on mental health. 

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Topics: sleep hygiene

What is Sleep Hygiene?

Posted by Darian Dozier on May 15, 2023 6:31:00 AM

On this blog, we talk a lot about establishing a good sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is by far the best method for establishing a good sleep routine that leaves you feeling rested and ready to take on the day! 

But what exactly is sleep hygiene? It's this term that is sort of thrown around without a lot of context. However, it is an important part of improving your sleep health. Therefore, it's important that you understand what it is, as well. Continue reading for a more in-depth explanation of what sleep hygiene actually is, so you can better implement it into your life.

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Topics: sleep hygiene

Caffeine's Impact on Sleep

Posted by Darian Dozier on Mar 20, 2023 6:58:00 AM

Caffeine is stimulant that is used around the world to combat sleepiness. It is present in coffee, teas, sodas, and other supplements to help provide energy throughout the day. It is natural, but can also be synthetically produced. 

Caffeine normally affects the body within about 30-60 minutes of consumption. It is efficiently distributed throughout the whole body and can cross the blood-brain barrier. 

Inside the brain, it blocks a sleep-promoting chemical and can also interfere with the circadian melatonin rhythms. Caffeine has a half-life of 4-6 hours, which means that's how long it takes for approximately half of it to remain in your system. So, consuming caffeine in the evening could keep you up at night because of how long it takes your body to metabolize it.

Caffeine can have a significant impact on sleep, so it's important to understand how it works, and how you should be consuming it for optimal sleep health. 

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Good and Bad Sleep Behaviors

Posted by Darian Dozier on Mar 15, 2023 6:10:00 AM

The art of sleeping is truly just that. It is not as simple as lying down and entering a peaceful slumber. Actually getting good quality sleep requires a multidimensional effort in terms of good sleep environment, a relaxed state of mind, and good sleep behavior. 

Once you are able to "master" all three of these, then you can prepare yourself for a very restful night of sleep, consistently. A good sleep environment is one that is dark, quiet, and cold. If it's clean and decluttered, that also helps. A relaxed state of mind is achieved by doing relaxation techniques before going to bed, and trying to stress dump before it's time for sleep. 

However, sleep behaviors can be a little more tricky to achieve because they require consistency and have to be individual to you! Sleep behaviors are the things you do before bed that prepare you to go to sleep. They are important because they get your body ready (or un-ready) to go to bed. Once you get a good pattern of sleep behaviors down, you can complete your triad of necessities for sleep.

So, in this article, we are going to talk about good and bad sleep behaviors, and what you can do to get ready for bed. 

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