5 hidden sleep stealers in your bedroom and an addition that goes a long way
New York isn’t the only city that never sleeps.An eye-opening new study determined that Detroit, Baltimore, St.Louis, Toledo, New Orleans and Newark are some of the most sleep-deprived cities in the US, due to issues like alcoholism, stress, obesity and smoking habits.Nationwide, most people don’t log enough hours in Sleepy Town.
A 2024 Gallup poll found that only 26% of Americans get at least eight hours of nightly ZZZs.Experts generally recommend adults snooze seven to nine hours a night for optimal health, immune function and mental performance.You can blame your high-stress job, your go-go-go social life, your nightowl ways for your sleep slump — or you can take stock of your bedroom to see what’s robbing you of rest.Rest assured, we’ve got you covered like a soothing quilt.Two sleep experts revealed five common bedtime burglars — and how to deep-six them for good.It might not be immediately obvious, but where you rest your head could be your biggest sleep snatcher.A mattress that’s too soft or saggy causes the body to sink, disrupting the spine’s natural alignment.
A mattress that’s too firm creates uncomfortable pressure points, particularly in the hips and shoulders.Either way, you’re tossing and turning and waking up in pain.Experts say you should match your mattress firmness to your sleep position — soft-medium for side sleepers, medium-firm for back sleepers and firm for stomach sleepers.And remember to change out your mattress at least every seven to 10 years.Light is the ultimate intruder in your bedroom — from porch lights and streetlights to small electronic indicators and hallway glow.These incandescent interlopers suppress the production of melatonin, the hormone that tells your body it’s time to rest, disrupting your internal clock.“Even that tiny, microscopic [amount] of blue light emitted from a charging device or the backyard spotlight peeking through the window is enough,” Dr.
Allison Brager, a neuroscientist and...