HEALTH TIP 4

Sleep is your safety valve

Get adequate amounts of good quality sleep by retiring before 10.30pm. The best time for sleep to restore your body is between 10pm and 6am.This will help your circadian rhythm, which balances your hormonal glands, and this also allows you to dream deeply in the phase of sleep known as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

Adequate amounts of deep restful sleep will reduce stress and anxiety and strengthen your immune system. 

If you don’t sleep well and snore or feel tired in the mornings please have an assessment for sleep apnoea. The definition of sleep apnoea is the lack of breathing for over 20 seconds during sleep; this causes levels of oxygen in the blood to plummet and is very dangerous. 

Your local doctor can organise an appointment in a sleep laboratory. 

Keeping your weight in the healthy range and regular exercise reduces sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea is a common problem and can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure and chronic fatigue. Magnesium supplements can reduce sleep apnoea.

In women with disruptive nocturnal hot flushes the herbs hops, sage and withania can help, as well as a prescription cream containing natural progesterone and oestriol bio-identical hormones. 

For more information see Dr Sandra Cabot's books, HRT – The Real Truth and Tired of Not Sleeping? – a holistic program for a good night’s sleep.