Tips for good sleep as we approach daylight-saving time

Daylight-Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7 and board-certified sleep physician, Anthony Masi, M.D., with the Sleep Center Institute at St. Mary’s Health Center, offers the following tips for getting a good night’s sleep. He also offers questions to determine if you have a bigger sleep issue that requires medical diagnosis and treatment.

Good sleep tips:

• Don't eat a heavy meal before bedtime
• Don't drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol before bedtime
• Don't nap during the day, or at least keep it brief -- 10 to 15 minutes
• Stop working on any task an hour before bedtime to calm down
• Don't discuss emotional issues at bedtime
• Make sure your sleep environment is comfortable
• Don't turn lights on at night - use a small night-light instead
• Don’t fall asleep with the television still on
• Set a regular bedtime and wake up at the same time every day
• Fight after–dinner drowsiness by doing something mildly stimulating to avoid falling asleep too early

Some questions to ask your doctor if you think you might have a sleep disorder:

• If I snore, does that mean I definitely have a sleep disorder?
• Is dry mouth a symptom of a sleep disorder?
• How can I tell if I have insomnia?
• Should I be concerned if I have trouble falling to sleep at night, lying awake for up to an hour before falling asleep?
• How do I know if my mattress or another environmental factor is causing my sleep problems?
• I am always tired despite adequate sleep time. Can this be a sign of sleep apnea?

Source  http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/health/health-matters/article_876004e4-e6ad-11df-b4ee-00127992bc8b.html