Sleep Products That Really Work
Best Sleep Products
Best Sleep Products
by Vicki Salemi
Wondering if that noise reducer is worth your while? Or how about organic cotton sheets? We'll give you a rundown of the best and worst products on the market, so you'll sleep better tonight. According to the American Sleep Association there is no substitute for sleep hygiene, such as sleeping in a quiet and comfortable dark bedroom without noise from the television, pagers or cell phones. That said, some products on the market can assist your quest for restful zzzz's.
Noise Reducer
Noise reducers can be packaged differently but, overall the goal is to reduce outside noise by creating ambient or white noise. A noise reducer may be helpful to certain people, explains Dr. David Rapoport, Medical Director of the New York University Sleep Disorders Center and Associate Director of the Bellevue Hospital Pulmonary Function Laboratory. Think airplanes, loud trains and yes, snoring. "Many people are very sensitive to noise. A noise reducer gets rid of noise which will disturb you. It makes sense for the right use." He adds that some people leave the television on for background noise but that is not a true substitute for white noise.
Sleep Mask
"We are designed to sleep in the dark," explains Dr. Rapoport. "If people are sleeping in an area with light, a sleep mask will help solve that problem, in particular if they work at night and need to sleep during the day." A mask by itself in an already dark environment will not do the trick. However, it is a beneficial product on the market for daytime sleepers.
Relaxation Music
Mozart, anyone? As a rule, background noise is distracting, though relaxation music has an element of white noise to it, so the proof is in the eye (or, in this case, ear) of the beholder. Dr. Rapoport notes, "Music takes the mind off worrying, so it's viewed as a relaxation technique. Overall, it may do as much harm as good. If it relaxes you then yes, it's a good thing." It should be noted that if troubled sleepers have tried over the counter therapies and continue to wake up tired, they should see a doctor. They may suffer from an undiagnosed sleep condition like obstructive sleep apnea, in which a person's airway collapses while sleeping.
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Aromatherapy
The use of volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being may be worth your while, but only if it's conducive to your relaxation. Consider this: Some aromas may be quite caustic or obtrusive, thereby interfering with your ability to unwind. "If [aromas are] helpful to your relaxation they would probably be good, but if aromatherapy keeps you awake at night it would be bad for your sleep," explains Dr. Rapoport.
Herbal Pillows
Herbal pillows may have a positive impact on sleep, but aren't the end-all and be-all solution to a snooze encounter explains Melanie Anderson, RPSGT and director of the Good Night Sleep Wellness Center. "Lavender has been shown to induce a feeling of calm and well being. Using a lavender scented pillow can help induce calm in some people, which can open the door for sleep to occur. Patients who complain of insomnia, especially if it is chronic, often have a myriad of issues contributing to their difficulty sleeping, so just the addition of an herbal pillow is not usually enough of a treatment, but it can help."
Foam Magnetic Mattress Pads
Experts say this product is not a necessity and instead the focus should be made on finding a proper mattress pad, not the magnets themselves. Neil Kline, M.D., board certified sleep physician and representative of the American Sleep Association adds, "There's no data to support that. It all boils down to comfort and it's very subjective and individualized." Anderson adds, "I have always been skeptical of the use of magnets, so this is not a therapy I would ever try for myself. Often people will sleep better by replacing an old mattress or mattress pad, since a worn out mattress can become uncomfortable."
Organic Cotton Sheet Sets
The jury's still out on this one: The type of fabric sheets you buy are less important than the way you launder them. Anderson explains, "People with allergies can be sensitive to soaps and softeners, which can lead to uncomfortable and restless sleep. Alternatively, many of our insomnia patients like soft, sweet smelling sheets to help induce a feeling of relaxation." That said, if you enjoy organic cotton sheet sets, then by all means continue using them. "Anything that makes a tangible difference in our own comfort, that's going to help," says Richard Shane, Ph.D. and developer of the Sleep Easily method.
Indoor Air Purifiers
Purifiers do a body good, especially when people suffer from allergy symptoms and nasal congestion. If you don't have these symptoms, however, an air purifier really won't positively impact your sleep. Dr. Richard Shane explains, "It does help if someone has congestion. If they don't have congestion it really doesn't make a difference." Anderson adds, "These can improve allergy symptoms and reduce nasal congestion in some people thus making sleep more comfortable."
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Adjustable Beds
Have you ever seen commercials for adjustable beds and wondered if they really invoke a good night's sleep? According to Anderson, they actually do work and are most effective in reducing pain in some people with hip and knee pain, which leads to better quality sleep. "We also recommend adjustable beds or wedge pillows for patients with acid reflux. Increasing the angle at the head of the bed can reduce the amount of acid in the throat and airway, thus reducing the amount of arousals caused by reflux. The fewer arousals a person has, the better their quality of sleep."
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Benjaminwengland 01:09:36 PM Sep 16 2008
ive tried most OTC medicine and all of it will work for a few days and thats it, now i use melatonin and have done for a year or 2 i doesnt always work for me but its the best ive found without seeing a doctor
frostepiano 11:51:28 AM Sep 16 2008
A good bottle of wine always knocks you out for about 7 hours, easy!
AngieWilliams530 10:07:58 AM Sep 16 2008
I have so much trouble sleeping. It is really hard for people who can not get a good nights sleep. I have found the best med is Lunesta. You WILL sleep. It is notihing like ambien, you will remember things, but you get a real good nights rest. It has a bad bitter taste to it, so don't take it with water. OJ is the best. But it works. I don't take it every night because I don't want to get to used to it that it does not work, but 3-4 days out of the week to get a good nights sleep is heaven. If your Doctor will ok it for you there is a two week trial on line that if he signs it you can try it for free. LUNESTA.COM. Wonderful med, just wish I could sleep natural.
Jazzy azaliah 09:19:55 AM Sep 16 2008
The only drawback I've had using earplugs has been rawness in the ear canal, but I use them ALL THE TIME, not just when sleeping. Also, if you're a heavy sleeper once you get to sleep, you'll need a damned good alarm clock to wake you. I suggest a hungry cat. Hungry cats have got to be the best alarm clock nature has ever invented. Feed your cat in the morning when you wake up each day for a week prior to using your new earplugs, and you'll never need to set your alarm clock again. At least, not until that transitional period between Floofy-Ball's untimely or unfortunate death and the completion of his replacement's alarm-call training.
Jazzy azaliah 09:15:41 AM Sep 16 2008
I've got to be the worst sleeper in history; however, the one thing that has helped tremendously is a pair of high quality, noise-reducing ear plugs. I love my 33db NR Howard Leight ear plugs. (I personally use only the highest decibel reduction, but there are many levels available.) If I travel anywhere I have to have them. They're great on the train, on the bus, or just for sleeping, especially in hotels or noisy apartment complexes. I became addicted to them as a teen (after the Benedryl stopped working), and have since tried to ween myself off of them to no avail. I wear them almost all the time, even when awake and going about my daily routine. For someone who hears and differentiates every particle of every sound, they are the difference between sanity and stark-raving certifiability. The best place to buy them is NOT the drug store. Go to a good DYI or tool store; they'll usually sell them in bulk. The only drawback to using ear plugs for me has been rawness in the ear c
Jazzy azaliah 09:06:29 AM Sep 16 2008
Sleep aids don't work to any lasting benefit, either. Most OTC medications aren't going to help you get into a deep, productive sleep, and because they're almost universally antihistamines, they can cause all sorts of problems if over used. Dry mouth and difficulty orgasming are just a couple. Now, Meletonin is a more natural way to go, but it worked only twice for me, and I took so much Benedryl (an antihistamine) as a teenager, trying to block out my grandmother's and father's snoring, that it no longer effects me at all. It doesn't even work for allergies, fgs, and that's what it's designed for! I've also tried just about every prescription sleep aid, including Trazadone, Ambien, and Rozerem without success. (Rozerem was disappointment, because I really love their commercials. But, all the marketing in the world won't make me continue a product that actually makes me sleep LESS than I did without it.)
Jazzy azaliah 09:04:15 AM Sep 16 2008
I've lived in apartments most of my life, and I'm guessing that's where my hyper-attenuation first developed. Nose reducers are the best recommendation this piece had to offer, but I can honestly say that, as a person blessed (or cursed depending on how you look at it) with perfect pitch, any time I hear white noise, it sounds like about forty different little whistles going off simultaneously until finally I hear one above all the others that has just the right modulation to be extremely annoying. In short, white noise isn't always so white. And whoever decided to recommend classical music is smoking crack. Most classical music was written to move you emotionally, and unless you're unmovable, Mozart is more likely to cause you so many ups and downs that sleeping isn't going to work. Relaxing music before bed, okay; Mozart while you're trying to sleep, not a good idea.
