| Do you have trouble sleeping?? It is estimated that a third of people in the UK suffer with insomnia. 3 common symptoms of insomnia are: Difficulty getting off to sleep Waking frequently during the night Waking early in the morning Insomnia often affects how well you function the next day, but long-term, it can have an impact on your overall health. For example: Depression and mental wellbeing Blood pressure and heart disease Weight gain Reduced levels of immunity These are thought to occur because of changes to hormones and body chemistry, caused by insufficient sleep. Insomnia can arise from a variety of causes: Stress and anxiety Depression Pain Illnesses such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Some medications Drugs and alcohol You can help yourself without sleeping tablets. Experts suggest that non-pharmacological treatments offer better outcomes: medication addresses the symptoms rather than the underlying causes and is only effective for a few weeks, as the body quickly becomes used to it. First...be realistic about how much sleep you are getting. Most people need about 8 hours sleep a night. It's normal to wake once or twice a night. If you feel fine the next day, you have had enough sleep. "Sleep hygiene" - a term commonly used, refers to a good bedtime routine. Many of us have done this for our children! Ensure the bedroom is associated with sleep. don't fill it with work, computers, televisions etc. |  Before going to bed try and: Avoid large meals Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol Avoid strenuous exercise If you can't sleep, don't lie tossing and turning. Get up, try a hot drink, read a book, a newspaper or even do puzzles; as you become sleepy return to bed. If worrying thoughts keep you awake, jot them down and they can wait until morning: you won't have forgotten them. Exercise can be helpful; many people however, take insufficient exercise on a daily basis. Try a routine 20 minute walk 2 or 3 times a week, gradually increasing distance and frequency. Reduce the stress in your life, consider alternative methods of relaxation: yoga, meditation or Tai Chi. Other therapies may also help - Cognitive behavioural Therapy is often recommended, while counselling, hypnosis, homeopathy, reflexology, massage and acupuncture can also prove useful. As always, there is much you can do to help yourself, before you need to contemplate the use of sleeping tablets to overcome insomnia. |
 Rise of the junk food generation as burnt out Brits struggle to cope with stress.
A new study, published in 2015 has revealed that stress levels are on the increase and we are risking our health by turning to sugary food, takeaways and alcohol to help cope with modern life. The study, commissioned by the British Acupuncture Council, shows that over half of people in the Yorkshire and Humber area are more stressed now, than they were ten years ago, but are turning to junk food and booze in a bid to make themselves feel better. The study of 5000 adults found that a third admit to comfort eating when stressed, a quarter confess to drinking alcohol and as a result, 1 in 5 admit they put on weight. 70% of people said they are aware that prolonged periods of stress can have a long-term impact on their health: almost half of people admit that they just put up with it and two thirds say stress in unavoidable in their life. A lack of time, 'wanting to have it all' and difficulty switching off from work were cited as the top reasons for the rise of burn-out. Stress can make it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but reaching for favourite foods or treating yourself to that bottle of wine after a hectic day may make you feel better in the short term, but it won't tackle the root cause of the problem. Traditional acupuncture is an effective, evidence-based therapy, that can be a positive step for anyone wanting to get their stress levels back under control. With 2.3 million acupuncture treatments carried out each year, traditional acupuncture is one of the most popular complementary therapies practised in the UK today. Based on ancient principles which go back nearly two thousand years, traditional acupuncture involves placing extremely fine, sterile needles painlessly at specific points on the body to trigger a healing response and restoring balance. Despite acupuncture's widely recognised health benefits, many of us are missing the point when it comes to this ancient Chinese medicine. Statistics show that fewer than 4% of local people have tried acupuncture to cope with stress and 70% say that they didn't know the therapy can help to release endorphins, the body's feel-good hormones. The research shows that 1 in 10 of us think stress isn't serious enough to seek help, that it's common to feel exhausted, overwhelmed and even depressed, so finding support is vital. A course of traditional acupuncture helps to target the root cause of the problem; treatment is unique for each individual. Typically, the cause could be a deficiency in the body exacerbated by overwork, working long hours, burning the candle at both ends or a lack of rest and proper nourishing food. With a specific treatment plan, many people find traditional acupuncture a wonderfully relaxing experience. Contacting the British Acupuncture Council to find a qualified local practitioner will ensure a high standard of care and safety. |