Sleep Well, the Official Guide to Better Sleep, Beat Insomnia Program
by Britney MayCom
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More than 64 million Americans' suffer from insomnia and other sleep disorders in the US alone. Sleeping problems lead to many, seemingly unrelated, diseases and conditions. Considering the stresses on people in industrialized nations, having a problem with sleep could be the number one health problem in the world.

VersaGlobe has committed to helping those with sleep problems find the restful zz's they have been missing. Here is the Sleep Well Program, with recommendations from sleep specialists, to give you a better nights sleep.

Cut the Caffiene

Caffeine is a potent psychoactive stimulant that nearly everyone consumes, in one form or another. Coffee, soda pop, tea, chocolate and "energy drinks" all contain levels of caffeine. Caffeine is metabolized differently in different people, causing acute insomnia in some. While Caffeine is quickly absorbed by the stomach and small intestine it may stay in the bloodstream for 24 hours after consumption, or longer. It really surprised me that soda at noontime was keeping me awake at 11 p.m.

Bedtime Routine

Establishing a "quiet time" without lights, TV, and computer use will significantly increase the chances of having a good night sleep. These stimulants keep the brain and body systems in high gear preventing the release of chemicals that aid in falling asleep.

Using your bedroom for activities other than sleep may create a tendency to associate "awakeness" with bedtime.

Specialists confirm that our bodies fall into sleep patterns if we are able to go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day.

Exercise

While exercise is crucial to a healthy lifestyle beyond sleep, it is an important physiological stressor that prepares our body systems for falling asleep.

Limit Food and Drink Before Bed

Eating or Drinking calories within several hours before bedtime causes the metabolism to ramp up blood sugar, readying the body for activity. This is bad for maintaining a healthy weight, and for falling asleep and staying asleep during the night.