Dr Oz: Sleep Clinic
Dr Oz launched a Sleep Clinic that helped patients from coast to coast, and that experiment helped him figure out America’s biggest sleep problems.
With the Sleep Disorders Institute, Dr Oz set up a sleep clinic and hotline. What did people need to know about their sleep health? He partnered with a variety of experts to come up with the most helpful advice. The team took phone calls, shared recommendations, and saw patients in person.
Dr Oz: How Much Sleep Do I Need?
Experts now recommend about seven hours of sleep per night as a guideline. Dr Michael Breus suggested giving yourself an electronic curfew so that you will stay off social media. Another expert said that sleeping less than five hours a night is cause for serious health concerns.
Dr Oz’s Sleep Clinic highlighted real struggles for people across the country, who can’t fall asleep, stay asleep, or seem to get the rest they need. (Ljupco Smokovski / Shutterstock.com)
Back in the studio after the experiment, Dr Oz shared some of the other diseases that could be connected to poor sleep, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Heart Attack
- Hypertension
- Lack of Energy
Dr Oz: Trouble Falling Asleep At Night?
Dr Oz said if you can get just one more hour of sleep per night, you can make a difference in your health. Dr Michael Breus was also onstage to talk about making some positive changes. “You need to be thinking about sleep earlier in the day,” Dr Breus said, because it is a process rather than a simple on/off switch.
Millions of people said they have trouble falling asleep. Kim from New York complained that she can’t shut her mind off so she can get rest. Dr Oz recommended enjoying a breakfast smoothie that is rich in Omega-3s (try adding Chia Seeds or Flaxseeds to your favorite recipe).
Dr Breus said that being overwhelmed with thoughts, as well as stress and anxiety, is a common problem that keeps people up. It should take you about 10 or 20 minutes to fall asleep at night.
Dr Oz: Omega-3 Breakfast for Better Sleep
Kim was in the audience to report that adding Omega-3s to her breakfast made a big difference after a few days. Dr Breus said you can enjoy Oatmeal, Walnuts, Chia Seeds, or Flaxseed to help your body get what it needs to naturally produce Melatonin.
Dr Oz: Trouble Staying Asleep At Night?
Touraine was another caller to the Sleep Clinic, and she explained that she falls asleep between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., waking up by 3 a.m. After that, she cannot get back to sleep. One of Dr Oz’s recommendations was to turn down the temperature in the bedroom.
Another issue in her case is Caffeine. But there are other stimulants that can wake up you at night. People with Insomnia have high core body temperatures, which I was surprised to learn.
Dr Oz recommended setting your bedroom temperature between 65 F and 67 F, to help you stay asleep at night. You should also avoid caffeine later in the day.
Dr Oz: Sleep Aids Don’t Work?
Tara connected with Doctor Oz to complain about her problems with sleep aids like Melatonin, which do not produce lasting effects for her. Dr Breus explained that these are meant to be a short-term solution to break a cycle.
Also, these drugs can have side effects, especially if they mix with alcohol in your system. Though they can help you fall asleep, they are probably only adding 11-18 minutes to your sleep each night.
Dr Oz: Send the Sleep Signal To Your Brain
Dr Oz and Dr Michael Breus suggested cutting sleep aids out of your routine. How can you send the sleep signal to your brain?
Progressive Muscle Relaxation is a technique mentioned on Dr Oz’s show before. It is about tensing and relaxing the muscles throughout your body. Raise your eyebrows as high as you can; hold that position and count to six. Then relax.
Squeeze your eyes shut and count to six (you can constrict other facial muscles as well). Continue working your way down the body to tense and relax all your muscles. Tara explained that she tried this at home and has gotten results.
Anthony Mendoza says
Help,help,help please I’m a Die-abetic & have high blood presher,allso to make matters worse my mom past away early this year.now let me tell you my illness. Startingmy head ,I feel stiffness in my neck then on the right side of my head feels like presher their. Allso I’m lossing pounds, I lost close to30 pounds in a week. I live in Houston I’m unemployedand feel like less than nothing because when I try to work and can’t finish a job coworkers make fun of me but I ignor them but the words stick in my head all night. So pleas help,help,help me. Thank you for your time.a men and god bless you and your staff.