The 6 Big Sleep Busters

Posted Wed, Jan 23, 2008, 11:01 am PST

625 Comments

1. Posted by Ej on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:04 am PST

More an article on stomach issues, but it was good information about eating late, eating heavy and consumption of caffeine and alcohol related to not being able to sleep. You might have mentioned bad backs and mattresses. A hard mattress might make things better as well as getting out of bed and stretching.
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2. Posted by patellah65@sbcglobal.net on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:09 am PST

I just ate spicy food last night so this is absolute hooey
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3. Posted by Gene R on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:10 am PST

The best way to avoid sleeplessness is to sit erect in a stiff back chair and stare straight ahead for 2 or 3 hours before bedtime. Don't move or speak---just sit and stare, preferably at a blank wall.Your wife won't like it but you will get a good night''s sleep.
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4. Posted by wmjohn76012@sbcglobal.net on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:13 am PST

I think at this point most people know that eating too much and eating late is not good for you because it makes you gain wieght however there are some people that must eat before they sleep because it is hard to fall asleep hungry.
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5. Posted by markandjanec on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:19 am PST

Oh for Pete's Sake. This is good generic advice only about foods and their effects on sleep. Give the writer a break. Some people may not know these things. And even if they do, it may be useful to review now and then. I find it useful. I slip into the bad habits mentioned above occassionally just because I like to eat or drink certain things. I pay later.
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6. Posted by gunkycat@verizon.net on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:21 am PST

I find if u are having trouble sleeping.... A small scoop of Vanilla Ice cream does the trick.... something about the milkiness of it has a soothing, drowsy affect. Works everytime for me.
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7. Posted by 1cheath@att.net on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:26 am PST

I do like the suggestions.I guess I'm ready to try anything as long as I can sleep more soundly. It may work for some and not others.
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8. Posted by James C on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:26 am PST

Hey I'd rather fart it and waste it then burp it and taste it.
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9. Posted by skool on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:27 am PST

I have been suferring with back pain chronic and has not had a full night of sleep for four to 5 year so do you have any advice thanks.
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10. Posted by Sonny on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:27 am PST

This is most simple minded advice I have seen today. Simple advice that most everyone knows already. But do spicy foods keep you up at night? NOT ME !
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11. Posted by Amy S on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:37 am PST

Being a woman, I find hormones disturb my sleep more than foods! Very annoying.
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12. Posted by victoria.coffaro@sbcglobal.net on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:38 am PST

Gee, I could have written this article! Where do I apply for a job with Yahoo? It's like people who eat at McDonald's all the time don't know they're gonna get fat-DUH!!
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13. Posted by Gene R on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:41 am PST

Another tip re #5 Nightcaps: If you flood your cells with high proof alcohol like vodka you'll be rendered unconscious---which is actually a form of sleep. So you won't have to spend so much time in bed---just stay there on the floor.
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14. Posted by Ollie on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:43 am PST

I think all that was written is good advice at face value. Everyone is different in this regard. For example, caffine morn.,noon or nite as no effect on me, nor eating late, but spicy foods produce some really long nites. I think the real test here is trial & error to find your triggers.
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15. Posted by tom on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:45 am PST

I love a good can of beans right before dinner, more so when my wife is acting up.
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16. Posted by Bubbri on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:48 am PST

The advice about the ice cream is good. Think how well a baby sleeps after a bottle of milk. They didn't mention that one problem might be what your sleep partner eats before bedtime. If they are snoring and suffering from reflux, and thrashing about, it can impact your own quality of sleep.
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17. Posted by carolyn4909 on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:49 am PST

Mother was right....a warm glass of milk and two aspirin. Try it, you will be surprised! It is not immediate but within 30 mins or so, you will be drowsy. Also, meletonin is very effective and can be purchased anywhere you buy vitamins. IMHO the general public is constantly bombarded with messages to take prescription drugs for sleeplessness. Those darn Pill Pushers! Did you know in the 1800's people did not think it strange to get up in the middle of the night and work, dance, eat, play, etc. Then they went back to bed for "second sleep". Our sleep problems began with the invention of the electric light! There is a great article in the NY Times Magazine. You can search online in their archives with the key word sleep.
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18. Posted by rotaz@att.net on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:50 am PST

Just read what we put into our bodies on the ingrediantes label. MSG is a real problem as it can cause anxiety and sleeplessness. Just be aware.
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19. Posted by michaelbeauvais on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:50 am PST

to patellah65. So becasue something did not affect as said one time, it is hooey. Get a clue, this is good advise.
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20. Posted by JIM B on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:51 am PST

At some point or another, it happens to everyone: You can't sleep. A small scoop of good generic advice does the trick.... something about the milkiness of it has a soothing, drowsy affect.
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21. Posted by Bob on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:51 am PST

You guys are funny. I did expect more from the article, but it did help to remind me not to feed my husband beans before bed.
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22. Posted by Steve C on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:55 am PST

Testing, is this thing on? testing, testing.
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23. Posted by David C on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:55 am PST

For the person with back trouble. This works for me. Lay on your back and try to keep your shoulders on the floor while taking one foot over and across your other leg and try to touch your big toe to the floor. Hold in this position for 30 seconds and then do the other leg. Repeat 5 times. Next lay flat on your back and bring your feed as close to your butt as you can and then raise your hips up as far as you can. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Relax for a moment and repeat 5 times. Whenever I start having lower back problems this works for me. I first found this information in a book written by a lady that had back problems from backpacking. I hope this help you.
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24. Posted by katzmeow on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:57 am PST

Oh really, wow! I like the advice that Gene suggested, sit and stare at the wall for 2-3 hours. No talking to moving. That's the best advice. I think I'll try it just for the fun of it. lol... sort of like meditation. right?
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25. Posted by American and proud on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 8:59 am PST

If eating a pork chop keeps me up it does not mean it will keep you up. If eating asparagus gives me stinky pee it does not mean it will give you stinky pee. Get a life and find something informative to write about. Quit just "plagurizing" garbage from millions of other useless articles.
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26. Posted by Deb on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 9:03 am PST

What is it about husbands and beans? YIKES!
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27. Posted by cmbdoc1@pacbell.net on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 9:08 am PST

In this multi-tasking, over stimulating society many of us have trouble clearing our mind of all the things we did and still have left to do to allow us to relax and go to sleep. That keeps your “emergency nervous system” on, so you are alert and ready to fight or flee. A simple yet very effective mind clearing, sleep inducer is deep, slow breathing, a simple form of “meditation”. The goal is to breathe as deeply and slowly as possible. With practice you can get to 5 or 6 slow, deep breaths per minute. That means your down time between breaths should be several seconds, the longer the better. The sequence: 1. relax all of your muscles, eyes closed in a comfortable position in a warm bed. 2. wait as long as comfortably possible before breathing in 3. breathe in as slowly and deeply as you can; keep all of your muscles relaxed. 4. wait as long as comfortably possible before breathing out. Stay relaxed. 5. let the breath come out as a quick sigh with the mouth closed. Let your shoulders relax and droop at the same time. 6. think or slowly whisper: “relax…. relax…. relax”. 7. wait as long as comfortably possible before breathing in again 8. Repeat until you gently and easily fall asleep. This can be done during the day as a quick and easy relaxing exercise. You can even do it while driving to and from work in annoying traffic, (keep your eyes open if you are the driver!) It is especially good at the doctor’s office just before the nurse checks your blood pressure. Many people have what is called “white coat hypertension”, which means their blood pressure is highest at the doctor’s office. The doc ends up chasing the problem with more and more pills which means more and more side effects for the poor patient. Deep, slow breathing before blood pressure checking solves the problem. Cleaves M. Bennett MD nomoremedicines.com
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28. Posted by joannd on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 9:08 am PST

If you have negative feelings about articles like this one, why read them? I find it interesting and sometimes helpful. There are just too many negative people in this world. Try being positive, that will help a whole lot...
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29. Posted by Christine M on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 9:09 am PST

What a diverse group we have here, some grouchy, some critical and some funny. Some of you are definetly not getting enough sleep. I would like to read some generic advice about the hormone problem interferring with sleep. I am in my early 40's and going through peri-menopause. At one point or another "generic" advice doesn't seem so generic.
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30. Posted by ifonly on Fri, Jan 25, 2008, 9:10 am PST

I can drink STRONG coffee after 8pm and have no trouble going to sleep. The alcohol effect is true - drowsy at first and then sleep patterns are disturbed. Pass the coffee!
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