Jan 30, 2023
With Sleep Medicine Specialist Dr. David Gessert
What’s your idea of the perfect vacation getaway? Imagine if money were no object and you could go anywhere, would you choose to sightsee in an exotic, glamorous location? Or, is your idea of the perfect getaway a sunny beach somewhere? Although our concept of the ideal vacation may vary, rarely do we book a trip with the idea of getting away from home simply for a good night’s sleep. Instead, we return home filled with wonderful memories but feeling like we may need a vacation after our amazing trip just to recover!
Well, that might be about to change. One of the hottest wellness trends for 2023 is booking a vacation with the primary goal of getting a proper night’s rest. According to a recent article in “Pure Wow,” several well-known luxury hotels are now offering wellness travel packages that prioritize the perfect night’s sleep. These days, new hotels are being designed specifically to promote sleep, health, and well-being with features such as sound-deadening materials in the doors, walls, and floors to ensure a quiet night’s rest along with air purifiers and soft lighting.
Taking it one step further, the Hotel Cadogan in London features a Sleep Concierge service where you can book a session with leading hypnotherapist and sleep expert, Malminder Gill. The service also includes sleep-inducing meditation recordings by Gill along with a “Pillow menu” that allows you to select your choice of pillow firmness, weighted blankets, a bedtime tea, and a scented pillow mist, all designed to support the best possible sleep. But you don’t have to travel to London to get the perfect night’s sleep. Right here in the U.S., numerous hotels are also offering sleep packages. For example, the Westin Hotel chain is famous for the sleep amenities they provide, including Lavender Balms, White Tea body lotions, and scented candles along with their luxurious Heavenly Bedding. The Park Hyatt in New York provides sleep masks along with their Sleep Suites which feature the Bryte Restorative Bed that dynamically adjusts to the guest’s sleep stages throughout the night to relieve pressure points and control the climate and temperature of the bed. Finally, the new Fairmont Century Plaza offers a combination of infrared technology, compression therapy, and healing sound waves on a specially designed anti-gravity bed. Additional amenities include CBD bath bombs, oversized soaking tubs, and black-out curtains.
If a “sleep destination” trip isn’t an option right now, there are still simple things you can do to get a better night’s sleep. For example, establish a nightly routine by going to bed at the same time every night and rising at the same time every morning. Exercise early in the morning rather than late at night so you don’t get overstimulated and find it hard to fall asleep. Spending just fifteen minutes outside in the sunlight, even during the winter, could help reduce insomnia. Finally, don’t bring your phones, iPads, and laptops into your bedroom because the blue screen light can trick your brain into thinking it’s still daytime.
But if these helpful suggestions don’t result in a better night’s sleep, you may wish to consult a doctor. And in the meantime, check out my 2021 interview with Sleep Medicine Physician, Dr. David Gessert from Henry Ford Health.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- How did David get involved in sleep medicine?
- Can we break up our sleep instead of getting it all at once?
- What is sleep deprivation?
- What is “microsleep” and why is it dangerous?
- How much sleep should adults aim to get every night?
- Why is sleep deprivation linked to triggering anxiety and depression?
- What role does a good night’s sleep play in balancing our hormones?
- How much sleep do children and teenagers need?
- What are the five categories of sleep disorders?
- What is sleep apnea and why do people snore?
- How can some people function on very little sleep?
- Is it possible to catch up on lost sleep?
- What is included in healthy sleep hygiene?
- Does lack of sleep cause weight gain?
- Is there such a thing as getting too much sleep?
- How does the loss of sleep affect your immune system and mental health?
- What about sleeping pills like Ambien?
- How can you combat chronic sleep deprivation?
- What is involved in sleep apnea testing and treatments?
- How can you contact Dr. David Gessert to schedule an appointment?
Today’s Takeaway:
A chronic lack of sleep is not only exhausting and leaves us feeling tired and irritable, but it also can be extremely damaging to our health. It’s not just our physical health that can be affected. A chronic lack of sleep can also trigger bouts of extreme anxiety and depression. But the good news is that there are ways to make up for lost sleep. Practicing good sleep hygiene can be the first step toward getting a better night’s sleep. Making positive changes to your nightly regimen by creating a healthy bedtime routine might help you sleep better at night. Identify the factors that are preventing you from getting your best night’s sleep. Eliminating caffeine and power drinks after mid-day, reducing your alcohol consumption, practicing meditation or deep breathing, and avoiding heavy meals before bedtime are all ways in which we can improve our chances for a good night’s sleep. By providing our body with the adequate rest it needs, we not only give ourselves the chance to perform at our best the following day, but we’re able to be there for our loved ones as well. Remember that every day is a gift and the gift of a good night’s sleep is a gift we need to give ourselves. I’m Florine Mark and that’s “Today’s Takeaway.”
Quotes:
“A lot of the really good quality sleep comes at the end of a long stretch of sleep.” — David
“Anybody's going to be irritable if you don't get enough sleep. And so that can make it tougher for the kids to behave during school.” — David
“You know, the heavier you are, the more likely you are to snore, and the more likely you are to develop sleep apnea.” — David
“If you’re under six hours, you’re not getting enough sleep.” — David
“For people who continuously don’t get enough sleep, their performance continues to decline.” — David
“It’s not really possible to catch up on sleep. You have to maintain getting adequate sleep each night.” — David
“Simple fixes can have a very large difference in your sleep quality.” — David
Brought to You By:
Mentioned in This Episode:
Make an appointment with Dr. Gessert or call 313-916-4417