2. DO rethink your pain medication.
Make sure your medicine doesn't worsen sleep, says pulmonologist Nidhi Undevia, M.D., medical director of the Center for Sleep Disorders at Loyola University in Illinois.
Some over-the-counter pain medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, might promise to help you sleep with pain, but they can increase the time it takes to nod off, she says – possibly because they inhibit the "sleep hormone" melatonin. And opioid painkillers, such as oxycodone (OxyContin), affect the brain in a way that can disrupt rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – which helps the body produce other hormones needed for tissue repair.
It makes sense to take medication if you're in pain, but consult your doctor to find the right one, Dr. Undevia says.
3. DO be cautious about napping.
A refreshing nap can help relieve pain, but keep it brief – only about 20-30 minutes, Dr. Undevia advises.
Longer than that and you might not be tired enough to fall asleep at night, Dr. Thorpy says.
If you think a nap would be a helpful pick-me-up from sleeping with back pain or a headache, find a quiet, comfortable spot – but don't get undressed or get in bed. If your bed is the only place you can nap, lie on top of the covers. And if you're afraid you won't wake up in half an hour, set a (not too jarring) alarm.
Source: http://ift.tt/1iZEGm4
Put the internet to work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please, don't spam! Send only useful and thematic comments. Thanks!