Do you ever feel groggy upon waking, or do you lack the energy needed to get through your day? It’s most likely that you are one of the 40 million Americans who isn’t getting enough sleep.
Lack of sleep not only makes you feel tired and sluggish, but it can be the root cause of other conditions such as depression, lowered immune system, high blood pressure, and difficulty with weight-loss.
The good news is that with a few simple changes to your evening bedtime routine, including an evening soak in your ThermoSpas hot tub, you can be on your way to better sleep, improved health, and more energy.
What the research says about lack of sleep
Study after study shows the connection between health problems and lack of sleep. Sleep related disorders are becoming an epidemic in our country since it is estimated that more than 40 million Americans get fewer than 6 hours of sleep each night.
Even a couple hours of sleep lost each night over the course of time can lead to health consequences like:
- Higher risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart related problems
- Inflammation
- High blood pressure
- Increased body mass index (BMI)
- Lowered immune system
It is also speculated that lack of sleep can shorten your lifespan by as much as 5 years!
Aside from health consequences, lack of sleep has been connected to an increase in motor vehicle accidents and work related injuries, depression, and poor work performance.
There is no doubt that getting a good night’s rest is a vital part of a healthy and productive lifestyle.
What you can do
Since most health complications start to occur when daily sleep falls below six hours, and the majority of you only need an extra 1-2 hours of sleep each night, it should be relatively easy to improve your sleep habits.
The key to getting better sleep is to establish an evening routine, or habit, that is conducive to getting a good night’s rest.
If you own a ThermoSpas hot tub, you are in luck. In a recent conversation we had with sleep expert Shawn Youngstedt of the National Sleep Foundation, soaking in a hot tub for 20-30 minutes before bed was proven to help people fall asleep faster and get a deeper night’s rest.
So how much sleep is enough? And what does a healthy bedtime ritual look like? For these answers we turn again to the sleep experts at the National Sleep Foundation (NSF).
Tips from the National Sleep Foundation
The mission of the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is to spread awareness to the public and healthcare providers about the importance of sleep. Each year, they release a National Sleep Poll with the latest findings in sleep research.
How much sleep do you need?
Even though the amount of sleep one individual needs is based on several different factors such as genetics, age, stress and overall health; the table below gives a good rule of thumb on how much sleep we need as we age:
Creating a bedtime ritual
1. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.
2. A relaxing, routine activity right before bedtime conducted away from bright lights helps separate your sleep time from activities that can cause excitement, stress or anxiety which can make it more difficult to fall asleep, get sound and deep sleep or remain asleep.
3. Avoid arousing activities before bedtime like working, watching TV, going on the internet, paying bills, engaging in competitive games or family problem solving.
4. If you are unable to avoid tension and stress, it may be helpful to learn relaxation therapy from a trained professional.
[http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/healthy-sleep-tips]
How a hot tub can help
Many studies have shown the link between hot tubs and sleep, and at ThermoSpas we have received numerous letters from customers telling us how they look forward to relaxing each night in their hot tub after work.
A nightly soak in a hot tub is a ritual practiced by many hot tub owners. It’s a time to relax from a stressful day; spend quality, uninterrupted time with family; and as it turns out, it’s also good for your health.
If you want to learn more about how you can receive these benefits and enjoy having a hot tub as part of your life, request your free brochure and DVD today, or call us at 1-800-876-0158 to speak with a ThermoSpas representative.
