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Millions of Americans toss and turn much of the night, unable to fall asleep – or to stay asleep once they finally do drift off.

Maybe it’s worry about bills. Maybe it’s relationship problems. It might even be a sleep disorder keeping them awake when they should be snoozing soundly. Whatever the reason, more than one-third of American adults don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Without proper sleep, you could be drowsy at work the next day, unable to properly perform your job and irritable with everyone around you. And that’s not all.

“Lack of sleep can leave you fatigued and with a weakened immune system, which could make you more susceptible to infections,” says Dr. Shab Krish, author of Restore Your Rest: Solutions for TMJ and Sleep Disorders .

“Lack of sleep can also decrease your mental acuity, disrupt natural hormone levels, and lead to a variety of other significant health problems.”

Krish, who is also director of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of North Texas, offers a few suggestions for those who find themselves still grumpy and exhausted when morning arrives:

·       Set your clock to remind you bedtime is approaching. You probably already set your clock so that you wake up when you need to in the morning. But Krish suggests you also set an alarm for 30 minutes before bedtime. “That will be a reminder that you need to shut off your electronic devices and start to unwind,” she says. Krish says you should strive to go to bed at the same time every night.

·       Set the mood. Krish says your bedroom should be an oasis. She recommends having dark shades covering all windows and eliminating any noise. Set the temperature between 68 degrees and 72 degrees.

·       Follow rituals. Establish nightly bedtime rituals, such as taking a warm bath, listening to relaxing music, or reading. “Getting into a nightly routine will tell your brain that it’s time to start relaxing and preparing for sleep,” Krish says.

·       Use your bed only as a bed. People lead busy, stress-filled lives, and sometimes they take their work to bed right along with them, determined to answer one last email or finish that report before they turn out the light. Bad idea, Krish says. “Doing work or other stressful activities while in bed can make it difficult for your brain to relax when it’s time to sleep,” she says. “Go into a different room to finish that work. That way when your body hits the mattress, your brain knows it can start to relax.”

·       Rule out a sleep disorder. Experiencing trouble falling asleep, waking up regularly during the night, and snoring are a few of the indications that you might have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, Krish says. “When you wake up in the morning you should feel refreshed,” she says. “If you don’t, that might be an indicator of a more serious problem and you should consider talking to a medical professional.”

Finally, Krish says exercise also can help.

“Regular exercise is not only good for your body and overall health, but it’s also good for your sleep,” she says. “A solid 30 minutes of daily exercise can make a huge difference in your quality of sleep.”

About Dr. Shab Krish

Dr. Shab Krish, author of Restore Your Rest: Solutions for TMJ and Sleep Disorders, is director of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of North Texas (www.krish.com). She has board certifications with the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain and the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. She is also a double specialist in both periodontics and endodontics.