Sleep is very importaint pillar in lifestyle medicine.

Sleep is not only about closing one’s eyelids and counting sheep, it is much more complex process. Staying sleeping processes in our body and brain remain very active (it is another type of activity than during daytime).

Sleep is very importaint tool not only for our life quality, but poor sleep quality is associated with several non-communicable diseases such as Diabetus Mellitus, Obesity, Depressia, Cardio-Vascular Disease and Mental Health problems.

So evaluating sleep problems and establishing good sleep quality is very importaint not only for overall life quality but also for several diseases prevention.

Poor sleep quality also have social and economic impact, due to its relation with our ability to learn, our performance, memory, concentration.

Also poor sleep quality correlates with our ability to resist infections: that’s why during severe flu we wants to sleep during all day – it is the way for our body to recover.

Doctors and health profeccionals may ask you about

• sleep quality
• duration
• sleep hygine

Also we have several tools for sleep evaluation, that include several validated questionarries, diaries, actigraphy, EEG (electoencephalogram) and especially polysomnography – that is golden standard for sleep disorders evaluation.

To be honest it is not needed to all sleep related issues, but some sleep disorders could be evaluated anly with this study.

Steps for better sleep

To sleep better, it’s important to have a regular bedtime, avoid screens before going to bed, and keep the room dark and quiet. A comfortable pillow and blanket can also help us fall asleep faster and enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. However very orten it is not enough or implement this advises to daily routine.

That’s why sometimes the most importaint step it to evaluated if you have sleep problems.

• If you feel too tired that you can’t stay awake till the next night
• Or may be you are snoring
• Or you are feeling too fatigue
• Or depressed

I could continiou this list. However, each 2nd-3rd patient that ask me for a check up mentioned that one of his disire is to improve sleep quality.

Verable devises are useful tool but sometimes it is not ebough especially because they have unknown mechanisms for sleep measuremens. Unfortunately by this moment to understand how it your “deep sleep” we could understand only via PSG.

What could be helpful for your doctor or health practitioner?

If you have some sleep issues, that you’d like to discuss with your doctor or health experts – you could prepare (fill in) sleep diary [https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/sleep-diary]. If you fill it at least during 2 weeks it would be useful: you need to fill is twice a day and it will help you doctor to undestand better your daily routine and factors than might affect your sleep and become aware about your sleep scedule.

So, filling this dairy beforehand you will make your consultations with a specialist more effective.

If you’d like to learn more, you are welcome to comment)