Health News for You
Even if you’re a habitual pajama wearer, you’ve probably heard someone swear up and down about the benefits of sleeping naked. It’s freeing, it’s sexy, it’s somehow not as cold as you think it would be, they say. But is it right for you? After all, nighttime nudity seems to be one of those things […]
When you’re feeling tired all the time, it’s easy to dismiss the constant fatigue as no biggie. After all, practically everyone is exhausted; it’s an unfortunate side effect of living through such stressful, unprecedented times. But there’s a difference between instantly drifting off at bedtime and actually struggling with extreme fatigue all day. When you’re […]
For example, you can try progressive muscle relaxation (which you can even do in bed!). This simply involves tensing your muscles and relaxing them one body part at a time, SELF previously reported. First, try scrunching and tensing your toes tightly for about 5 to 10 seconds. Then, release them and feel the difference in […]
Chronic insomnia, on the other hand, means you have trouble falling and staying asleep at least three times a week for three months or longer. It can also be triggered by things like never-ending stress, difficult emotions you haven’t worked through, or constant travel that’s throwing your schedule out of whack. However, this type of […]
If you’ve felt your heart beating really fast, fluttering, flip-flopping, or pounding in your chest, chances are you’ve experienced heart palpitations—and it probably (understandably!) made you feel a bit uneasy. This is your heart we’re talking about, after all. “Heart palpitations” is a general term that can mean a lot of things, but it essentially […]
“However…studies have provided some evidence for a link between obstructive sleep apnea and genetic factors—it is thought that approximately 40% of obstructive sleep apnea is attributable to genetics,” Dr. Hutz tells SELF. Here are some of the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea. Various genetic factors, like the structure of the facial bones, tone of […]
What makes sleep so vital for everyone, but especially for trauma survivors, is that it helps the body process and rejuvenate. “Sleep is essential, especially good-quality sleep,” Alex Dimitriu1, M.D., founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, tells SELF. “During sleep, we process and pack away memories, as well as emotions. If trauma or […]
Falling asleep is hard, but waking up with a creaky neck adds insult to injury. If this sounds familiar, you need a new pillow. The best pillows for aching necks truly vary depending on the individual and their needs: Side sleepers are going to need a very different pillow from back sleepers, and taller people […]
In our Sleeping With… series, we ask people from different career paths, backgrounds, and stages of life how they make sleep magic happen. For Camila Coelho, rest and self-care aren’t just wellness fads—they’re priorities, ones that she focuses on for the sake of her health. The influencer, designer, and entrepreneur was diagnosed with epilepsy as […]
John Higgins7, M.D., sports cardiologist with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, Texas, says your stomach absorbs cool water more easily (compared to ice-cold or warm water), which will help you feel cooler. He recommends taking an ice chest with plenty of water to the beach. (You can also store water-packed fruits like watermelon […]
Intuitive eating paired with flexible nutrition guidelines can help make sure your nutritional needs are being met throughout the day. Intuitive eating is an evidenced-based approach to eating where, instead of focusing on external food rules to guide your eating choices—say, like eating six small meals per day or cutting out sweets after 5 p.m.—one […]
We’ve got a vested interest in anything that will help us get a good night’s sleep, which is why the best weighted blankets are always on our radar. They’re massively popular, and many swear by their ability to soothe. In fact, there’s a good chance you know someone who raves about their weighted blanket. And […]
If you think you might be dealing with this, Dr. Aysola recommends avoiding going to sleep with a full belly: “End your last meal a couple hours before bedtime so you have less of a chance of reflux interfering with your sleep.” Even if you don’t have acid reflux, eating can also cause indigestion and […]
Editor’s note: We’ve updated this story to reflect that Amazon is offering an exclusive deal on the Kindle Paperwhite for Amazon Prime Day. It’s a great gift idea for a new mom or side sleepers. See all of our favorite deals from the Amazon Prime Day sale here. I have been a side sleeper for […]
Managing bipolar disorder and work demands can feel really daunting. In 2018, Emily Washcovick, now 31, really loved her busy marketing job at a tech company. But her work schedule made it hard to have a consistent routine, and Washcovick often missed out on sleep. A lack of sleep turned out to be a big […]