Health & Wellness

23 Jun 2021 admin

Top Sleep Deprivation Tips to Implement Immediately

Did you get enough sleep last night? If you slept for less than seven hours, you’re among the millions of Canadians who are sleep-deprived. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, one in three Canadians sleep less than the recommended seven to nine hours. You might think you feel fine after just getting six hours, but there are long-term effects to being sleep-deprived. Sleep plays an important role in our immune function, metabolism, memory, learnings, and other critical functions. Not getting enough sleep increases the risk of developing serious medical conditions like heart disease and hypertension, type 2 diabetes, mood disorders, and obesity. The good news though, is you can take proactive steps that can help you develop better sleeping habits.  

Schedule Your Sleep and Wake Up Time

The average Canadian gets less than seven hours of sleep every night. That’s less than the eight hours doctors and sleep experts recommend. One way you can ensure you get enough sleep is to schedule a routine, where you go to bed and wake up at the same time, every day. This can help synchronize your sleep schedule with your internal clock. While eight hours is the standard amount of sleep you need, everyone’s needs are different. Adjust your sleeping schedule up or down until you find the right amount of sleep you need to feel rested.

Drink Caffeine Only in the Morning

Another great way to fight sleep deprivation is to only drink caffeine in the mornings and generally reduce your caffeine intake. Why? Caffeine has a five-hour half life, and it could take up to 24 hours to work its way through your system. If you have a drink of coffee or tea at 9:00 a.m., 25% of that caffeine is still in your body at 9:00 p.m. Having a cup of coffee in the afternoon means you’ll be near 50% strength when it comes time to go to bed.

Limit Screen Time

Most of us cannot live without our smartphones or mobile devices. We check them countless times during the day and take them to bed with us to help us wind down. But when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, our wireless companions may be doing us more harm than good. Smartphones, laptops, and tablets emit short-wavelength blue light which gets in the way of the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone. The result? You end up feeling more awake and alert—the last thing you need before you go to bed. The best remedy is to put down your devices at least half an hour before going to bed.

MD Connected Ltd. – Canadian Healthcare Made Simple

Are you like millions of other Canadians who are sleep deprived? If you want to take charge of your mental and physical health, then contact the medical professionals at MD Connected Ltd. Through MD Connected Ltd. you can connect virtually with a licensed doctor from the comfort of your own home (or anywhere), anytime. All you need is access to the Internet. It’s easy to get started. Simply click the “book a virtual visit” button on our website, request an appointment, and connect with one of our doctors. It’s that simple. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians have used MD Connected for general consultations, prescription renewals, sexual health, mental wellness, travel health, and sick notes and forms. To learn more about MD Connected Ltd., contact us by visiting www.mdconnected.ca or e-mail us at mydoc@mdconnected.ca.