If you’ve ever needed an extra reason to curl up under a warm blanket, keep reading as Marla Ahlgrimm answers questions about why sleep is so important and how to get a restful 40 winks each night.
Q: What are the health benefits of sleep?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Getting a good night’s sleep is vital to your health. Not only does it help keep your memory intact, but getting the right amount of sleep, between seven and nine hours each night, may actually extend your life.
Q: How does sleep heal the body?
Marla Ahlgrimm: When you go to sleep, your body goes to work repairing the damage caused by the day. This is everything from tears in the muscles and damage to the joints to helping your mind process stress and trauma. It is believed that people who get more than six hours of sleep each night are less susceptible to chronic inflammation, which is linked to premature aging, arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.
Q: What are the most favorable conditions for sleeping?
Marla Ahlgrimm: That really depends on the person. Women who are going through menopause are typically more comfortable in a cool room with cotton sheets and a breathable mattress. Most experts believe that 61° to 68° is the ideal room temperature and that restful sleep is most effectively achieved in a dark room with minimal distractions.
Q: Can I exercise before bed?
Marla Ahlgrimm: Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body, especially where sleep is concerned. However, you should avoid intense exercises in the two hours leading up to bedtime. It’s also a good idea to avoid food throughout the same time period. Ideally, you should finish dinner sometime between 5 and 7 PM, go for an after dinner walk, and settle in for the evening. You can unwind by establishing a bedtime routine that includes reading a good book and taking a warm bath.
Marla Ahlgrimm has co-authored two ground-breaking books,