Who doesn't love falling asleep on freshly washed sheets. Even better, sleeping on sheets dried outside on the clothes line. A quiet house helps too. We all know our sleeping environment influences how well we sleep. But did you know that keeping your room dark is also key to getting a restful and rejuvenating sleep?
Melatonin, the hormone that regulates the body's sleep-wake cycle and one of the body's most powerful cancer fighters, is released in the middle of the night--and only when the body detects sufficient amount of darkness. Sleeping in a dark room is one of the best ways to ensure enough of the hormone melatonin is released. If you live in a city or other place where bright lights can intrude into your bedroom even with your curtains pulled, then consider buying some room-darkening shades or wear an eye shade when you sleep. Instead of turning on a light when you get up to check on your kids at night, use nightlights in rooms and in the hallways because even turning on bright lights for a brief period could cause melatonin levels to drop. You might even want to dim the bright alarm clock next to your bed. (Many of these tips are from the August issue of O, The Oprah Magazine.)
Besides goofing up your sleep patterns, is working the graveyard shift bad for your health? According to a study by the World Health Organization and reported on MSNBC.com, going to bed on a regular schedule and sleeping in a dark room at night (instead of working at the night and sleeping in the day) may help reduce your risk of getting cancer. According to a report on the same WHO study by CBSNews.com, "Scientists suspect that overnight work is dangerous because it disrupts the circadian rhythm, the body's biological clock. The hormone melatonin, which can suppress tumor development, is normally produced at night."
(Web images © Chris Olson.)
