New research has revealed that daytime naps lasting more than 30 minutes can have a detrimental effect on sleep quality, as experts warn about the importance of proper sleep habits.
A survey by Roseland Furniture has uncovered that an overwhelming 90.7 per cent of UK adults experience sleep disruption due to various physical, emotional and environmental factors. One of the main factors disrupting sleep is what you eat.
The study identified the growing need for better sleep hygiene practices in the face of widespread sleep challenges affecting the nation’s population.
Dr Paul Wallang, a Consultant Psychiatrist at Cardinal Clinic shared expert guidance to tackle these widespread sleep issues.
While there is debate around whether eating certain foods make sleep more difficult, when you eat can also impact this.
The doctor said: “Eat light and have dinner three hours before sleep. Heavy meals or hunger disrupt sleep.”
He explained going to bed on an empty stomach can make it more difficult to drift off, and you also risk waking up in the night due to hunger.
However, eating too close to bedtime or being too full will also have negative consequences.
It concluded: “It is thought that meals close to sleep onset contribute to poor sleep quality through gastrointestinal discomfort, heartburn, and reflux.”
What you drink can be equally important for sleep as what you eat, with the doctor warning about alcohol and caffeine.
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Like food, there is also a cut-off point before bed of when you should last consume these beverages.
Dr Wallang said: “Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks six hours before sleep.”
This comes as new research linked struggling to sleep with an increased Alzheimer’s risk.
Experts explored this and gave Britons five important tips that can help them sleep better.
