An expert offers tips if you’re considering purchasing a device to help you sleep better.
Sleep-tracking gadgets range from those that track how much you sleep to those that monitor your sleep stages, but it’s hard to know if they’ll provide you with accurate results and relevant data.
Because these devices record wake and sleep based on movement, if you’re generally someone who doesn’t move around much during sleep but moves around a lot during wake time, you’re more likely to get an accurate recording of your sleep amounts while wearing one of these devices, Dr. Philip Alapat explained. He is a sleep medicine assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Other sleep aids that have been proven to be beneficial to patients are:
- White-noise machines to provide consistent sound that blocks background noise.
- Alarms that gradually increase light in the room to help you wake up naturally.
- Weighted blankets, which have been reported to help alleviate abnormal sensations in the limbs for people with restless legs syndrome.
Alapat also suggested several ways to boost your chances of getting a good night’s sleep: While getting ready for bed, dim the lights in the room, switch off the television and computer, and put your phone away. To help you relax, create a peaceful, cool, and quiet environment.
In a Baylor news release, Alapat remarked, “Those of us who do have difficulties going to sleep need things to help us relax more before bedtime.”
It can be difficult to turn off the brain. Anything that keeps your mind occupied while you detach from work and other responsibilities will help you sleep better. “
If you’re still having difficulties sleeping, Alapat suggests seeing a sleep medicine specialist. They may give you a home sleep test to see if you have trouble breathing while sleeping, or you may need an in-lab sleep study where sleep experts use EEG recordings to assess your brain waves.
