Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Sleep Necessary, Needed For Today's Lifestyles

The modern world is a stressful place. One result is that more and more people are getting less and less sleep.

While stress is the major cause of sleep loss, other factors include backache, non-specific insomnia, snoring, jet lag, allergies and asthma. Other culprits include arthritis, migraine headaches, osteoporosis, sleep apnea, incontinence, menopause and pregnancy.

About two-thirds of us experience some form of sleep disorder that undermines the quality of slumber. A third of all adults sleep less than six and one-half hours a night  eight are recommended. Even young adults ages 18 to 29 have problems. Thirty-three percent suffer significant daytime sleepiness and 55 percent wake up feeling unrefreshed.

Basic comfort is important to a good night's rest. Foam, from latex to visco-elastic, currently is the hottest bedding category. Offerings range from multi-zoned mattress pads to lumbar- and cervical-support pillows to relieve pressure points, alleviate pain and prevent tossing and turning that interrupt nighttime slumber. Polyurethane, feather and down pillows also are available with a range of shapes to provide support based on body size and sleep position.

Neck rolls, u-shapes, bones and wedges, along with internal channels and cores offer support for the neck, shoulders and legs during sleep. One foam pillow has a "memory" which molds to the shape of the head and neck.

Some of these pillows accommodate specific parts of the body; some contain air and water bladders so the pillow can be adjusted to the body's need. Others keep air passages open to prevent snoring. Aroma-therapy pillows have a pocket for essential oils, and claim these fragrances relieve stress and promote a restful sleep. One pillow has a gel tube in its core, which is heated in the microwave to alleviate headaches, or frozen to keep the pillow cool at night, thus easing upper neck and shoulder pain  or even hot flashes. Another offers "hot flash" pillow covers that help wick perspiration and keep the sleeper's head cool. There are buckwheat hull pillows that allow air to circulate and cool the head. In the development stages are pillows and pads with temperature-regulating material.

Comfortable, waterproof mattress pads are becoming popular, because of an aging population and changing lifestyles. More children sleep in full-size beds. More families spend more time together in bed with children (and pets). Non-woven materials or a polyurethane layer laminated to the inside of the pad have replaced noisy and crinkly vinyls of previous mattress pads.

To keep travelers comfortable, pillows-to-go are offered in down, foam and buckwheat and millet hulls. Eye pillow/shades and wrist pillows designed to alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome promote comfort everywhere.

Choose comfortable bedding and get a good night's sleep to relieve stress of a busy day.

For more information on family health contact the Clark County Extension office at 246-2281.