Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Sleepless Night - How to Survive the Next Day

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

We all have nights where we just can't sleep and here are 5 tips that might make the day after just a little easier.

Caffeine helps but not too much. Caffeine can help give you a little more alertness but more than 2 cups will probably just make you jittery. The same goes for caffeine pills or energy drinks. When you've been deprived of sleep your brain chemistry is different. Sleep hormones collect in the brain all day and drinking too much coffee isn't going to stop the process. Stop all caffeine after 4 pm so you avoid another sleepless night.
The sugar rush isn't worth it. Avoid the sugar cravings caused by fatigue. You'll get a quick rush of energy but the crash that comes later is inevitable. Stick with protein rich foods and avoid simple carbohydrates.
Take a walk. When you are tired your mind will tend to wander making it hard to concentrate for extended periods of time. Walking outside or performing light exercises will help stimulate your body naturally.
Keep it simple. Don't attempt complicated projects or multitasking. Avoid making big decisions until you feel more rested.
Avoid driving. Driving while drowsy is one of the top causes of serious accidents. If you can't avoid driving be very careful in the early afternoon. Most people tend to get sleepy around 1 or 2 pm and if you are feeling sleep deprived it may be hard to keep your eyes open while driving.

If you are constantly experiencing severe daytime sleepiness you may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder like obstructive sleep apnea. People with obstructive sleep apnea think they have gotten a full night of sleep and can't understand why they feel so tired all of the time. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and even premature death. A sleep study can easily diagnose any sleep breathing disorders.

Obstructive sleep apnea can be treated effectively and simply by using an oral appliances created by a dentist who has special training in dental sleep medicine.

For more information please contact Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell at 561-394-9000. Serving sleep apnea patients in Boca Raton, Vero Beach and Jupiter.

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