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Month: May 2023

May is Better Sleep Month, a time to raise awareness about the benefits of better sleep and how it affects your overall health. While you’re asleep, your body restores itself allowing muscles to repair and get rid of waste. Not getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night can lead to a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease and depression. Keep reading to learn more about how sleep impacts your overall health.

Heart Health

When it comes to heart health, adequate sleep is critical to staying healthy. When we sleep, our heart rate and blood pressure go down, allowing our heart and vascular system to rest and repair. When we aren’t getting sufficient sleep or our sleep is interrupted, our blood pressure and heart rate stay elevated.

Obesity

Lack of sleep can lead to unhealthy weight gain and obesity. Various hormones like ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry, and leptin, which makes you feel full, are regulated during sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep at night, these hormones can become irregular causing you to feel hungrier and overeat. Another reason for weight gain caused by lack of sleep is because you don’t have enough energy to get the exercise you need. On the other hand, obesity can also be the culprit of sleep issues. Extra weight around the neck can cause sleep apnea, temporarily restricting or blocking airflow as you sleep.

Mental Health

Mental health and good sleep go hand in hand. Lack of sleep can affect brain activity, which can affect your mood and cause depression and anxiety. Insomnia is one of the main causes of depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Anxiety and depression can also cause sleep problems, including insomnia or getting too much sleep. Treating anxiety and depression can lead to greater sleep and overall health.

Immune System

Not getting enough sleep reduces the levels of antibodies, cells and proteins that your body uses to fight off viruses. This can lower your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness and infection. Lack of rest can also increase the time it takes to recover from an illness, because your body is not getting the time it needs to recover.

Tips for Better Sleep

  • Stay active and get regular exercise
  • Limit blue light exposure in the evening
  • Consume caffeine in the morning and don’t eat late
  • Reduce the frequency and length of naps
  • Stay on a regular sleep schedule
  • Keep your bedroom cool, dark and quiet

Increasing your quality of sleep can increase the quality of your day, maximize productivity and improve overall health. If you have tried many different ways to improve your sleep and still are having trouble, you may have a sleep disorder. If left untreated, these disorders can lead to potentially serious health conditions. If you suspect you have a sleep-related disorder, you can call the Southwoods Sleep Centers at 330-729-9480 to schedule a consultation.

The month of May is Arthritis Awareness Month, a great time to educate yourself and spread awareness on the leading cause of disability in America that affects over 50 million adults and 300,000 children. Arthritis can lead to debilitating pain and stiffness in joints, affecting a person’s overall function and limiting mobility. There are over 100 types of arthritis, with the most common being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia and gout. Keep reading to learn more about early signs and symptoms of Arthritis.

Joint Pain

One of the most common signs of arthritis is pain in your joints, which can also be referred to as arthralgia. People often complain of a burning sensation or a dull ache that comes first thing in the morning or when it’s rainy or humid. When it comes to arthritis, early detection and prevention is key, so finding out if your pain is a result of overexerting yourself, age or something more serious is very important.

Swelling

As you experience pain in your joints, you will likely also experience some swelling. This occurs when there is increased synovial fluid within the joint. In a normal joint, this acts as a cushion, but with arthritis, your body may produce too much of the fluid causing the joints to swell. This can cause discomfort, as well as restrict movement and mobility.

Grating Sound or Sensation

If you hear or feel a grating or grinding noise or sensation when a joint moves, this is a very common sign of arthritis. The sound comes from the cartilage in the joints wearing away, leading the bones to no longer smoothly glide against each other.

Joint Redness

If you notice redness around joints, without rubbing them, it is likely caused from inflammation brought on by arthritis. Your healthcare provider will run tests to pinpoint the cause of the inflammation and rule out joint infection.

Chronic Fatigue

While it is normal to get tired from time to time, if you are persistently experiencing fatigue along with joint pain and other symptoms, it may be a sign of arthritis. Fatigue can be a result of the effects of joint pain, inflammation, swelling and other common arthritis symptoms.

Other Symptoms

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, may present symptoms that include:

  • Pain during or after movement
  • Joint stiffness right after waking up or after inactivity
  • Joint tenderness
  • Loss of flexibility
  • Bone spurs
  • Malaise

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, your primary care physician can assess you and recommend the right treatment plan to help you manage arthritis. Treatment will depend on the severity, its symptoms and your overall health. Most people can manage arthritis and still do the activities they love.

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