Month: June 2021

Did you know your sleeping position could impact your respiratory health? As new and surprising as it sounds, maintaining your respiratory health in today’s urbanized world is extremely vital, but the importance of respiratory health has been specially amplified in the face of the pandemic as it is the key to fight the virus. In the modern world, respiratory diseases are quite common considering the quantity of harmful effluents released into the air by automobiles, factories, house chimneys, machines etc. If something as mundane as your sleeping position can help improve your respiration and prevent shortness of breath, why not give it a shot?

Shortness of breath is a very frightening symptom of chronic lung diseases. It won’t be shocking if this phenomenon is described as ‘air hunger’. It causes people to gasp for oxygen and often occurs with chest tightness and anxiety. While inhalers prescribed by your doctor will help fight shortness of breath, staying calm and following certain effective sleeping positions will also aid in the long run. Here are some prescribed sleeping positions that will give your lungs a boost and make them stronger to fight the COVID-19 virus.

 Sleeping Position A:

• Lie on your side with a pillow between your knees.
• Place a pillow or two under your head.
• Straighten your back, relax, use your preferred breathing techniques.

 Sleeping Position B:

• Lie down on your back with a pillow under your knees.
• Place a pillow or two under your head.
• Relax and use your breathing techniques.

Sleeping position C – Proning:

• Lie down on your stomach, with a pillow below your chest. Perform deep inhalation and exhalation.
• Pay attention to your rib movement in the process.
• Inhale and exhale for 10 mins and push your ribs towards the pillow simultaneously. 
• Following this, place two pillows below your abdomen and continue with deep inhalation and exhalation.

 These sleeping positions will help manifest a better, steady lifestyle while avoiding respiratory problems at the same time. Thus, the next time you wake up in the middle of the night due to shortness of breath, you know what to do.

“Sleep is not a luxury” – Dr. James O’Brien

It’s common to have some interruption in a typical sleep pattern during times of uncertainty. It’s difficult to sleep when you’re anxious or concerned, and this can influence the amount and quality of sleep you get. Sleeping on a regular, high-quality schedule is beneficial to your physical and mental health, as well as your ability to cope with life’s challenges. It also aids in the proper functioning of your immune system. It may even reduce your chances of acquiring health issues such as heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Here are 7 ways by which you can improve your sleep quality by maintaining regular sleep cycles during this lockdown:

1. Indulge in aerobic exercise : Aerobic exercise seems to have similar effects on sleep as sleeping pills. According to studies, exercise reduces problems of sleep disturbances and insomnia. It’s difficult to jog, cycle or swim during a lockdown, but you could certainly try indulging in activities such as skipping or jumping jacks. 
2. Create a routine : Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, the quality of the sleep is most important. And hence, developing a routine for yourself will help you eliminate a lot of stress. Try to design your schedule and plan your pre-sleep and post-waking up activities in such a way that you can get a sleep of 7-8 hours, regardless of when you go to sleep.
3. Expose yourself to natural light : The most significant external factor influencing sleep is light. Light affects Melatonin, which is an important hormone that promotes sleep. It’s especially crucial to get some sunlight, even if it’s from your balcony, when we’re stuck at home because of lockdown restrictions.
4. Taking a bath before bed : We often feel refreshed after taking a bath, but taking bath before going to the bed helps in promoting good quality sleep by helping us relax and providing peace of mind.
5. Design your bedroom : Design your bedroom to make you feel comfortable. Invest in a quality mattress (hello there!), clear the mess, clean your room regularly, keep your materials organised, invest in good lighting and stay ventilated. These things sound simple, but we often ignore the mess around us and that has a cognitive impact on our minds which affects sleep. 
6. Limit your news intake : We understand that this is difficult to avoid, but the sheer amount of information and news broadcasts on COVID-19 can be overwhelming, causing worry and anxiety. Avoid watching the news or using social media extensively a few hours before bedtime. Instead, check-in on any fresh developments first thing in the morning.
7. Increase your gambling activity: Mobile casino games allow people to gamble online using their mobile phones or other mobile devices. These games are typically played through an online casino, online poker room, or online sportsbook. Many online casinos offer mobile casino games, and some of these casinos specialize in mobile gambling. Mobile casino games can be played for real money or for fun. Fun play mobile casino games are typically offered as a way to promote a particular online casino or to attract new players. Real money mobile casino games are usually only offered by online casinos that also offer traditional online gambling products such as online slots, online blackjack, and online roulette. Mobile casino games can be played on a variety of devices including iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, Blackberrys, and Palm computers.