Roughly sixty million Americans have a hard time getting enough zzz’s, and most are women over the age of sixty-five. There are a host of reasons why we toss and turn and struggle to sleep. By identifying the one that’s keeping you awake and then remedying it, a good night’s sleep can be more than just a dream.

OVER-THINKING: When you can’t get your mind off something and it’s keeping you from falling asleep, don’t fight it. Get out of bed, go to another area in your house and read something very boring (put on only one light). When you feel drowsy, walk carefully back to bed. Pre-empt worrying thoughts by taking time in the late afternoon or early evening to write down your problem and what you can do to solve it.

SLEEPING IN: If you haven’t gotten to bed until the wee hours, don’t be tempted to set your alarm for later the next morning. It will throw your internal clock off and make it harder to maintain a solid sleep routine.To make up for lost sleep, take an afternoon nap the following day but make it no longer than 20 minutes. Any longer, and you might end up tossing and turning at night.

A NOISY BED PARTNER:  If your partner is a snorer it could sound as loud as a vacuum cleaner. That’s eighty decibels! It’s no wonder you wake up from a deep slumber. Ask your partner to sleep on his side instead of his back. If that doesn’t work, suggest your partner see a doctor for other possibilities. It could be sleep apnea and in that case, there are remedies.

WACKY HORMONES:When you’re going through perimenopause hormones are swinging up and down and they can sabotage even the deepest sleeper. Avoid caffeine after lunch and alcohol at least three hours before you’re tucking in. If you’re having hot flashes, make sure the room is cool and wear a light cotton gown or nothing at all.

HUNGER: The simple fact is that hunger pangs can wake you from a deep sleep. Save some of your daily calories for a high-protein bedtime snack, such as a small serving of cheese or a hard-boiled egg. Protein will keep your body satisfied longer than carbohydrates or fat.

Source: Third Age

Like a lot of Boomers these days, you may be leading a full and fairly stressful life. Here’s a counterintuitive way to make yourself feel better both emotionally and physically. Add one more item to your To Do list: volunteering. And if you’re retired with a little leisure on your hands, filling the void with projects that reach out to others is a scientifically proven way to boost your morale and your immune system at the same time.

Researcher Alan Luks, longtime head of Big Brothers and Sisters, coined the term “helper’s high” after completing a study of over 3000 men and women. He found that those who gave of themselves most often were 10 times more likely to enjoy robust health than people who didn’t volunteer at all. The biochemical explanation for this phenomenon is that endorphins, our inner painkillers and mood elevators, are released in significant quantities when we show compassion and kindness to those in need.

In the years since Luks published his findings in a book called “The Healing Power of Doing Good,” several other researchers have corroborated his results. It’s now irrefutable that you not only get warm fuzzy feelings when you touch someone’s life in a positive way but that you also have a better shot at avoiding illness. Your sense of self-worth will ratchet up as well.

Source: ThirdAge

There has been growing concern over the health effects arising from the September 11 attacks in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. Within seconds of the collapse of the Twin Towers and Building 7 of the World Trade Center, pulverized building material, electronic equipment, and furniture was spread throughout the area.

Additionally, in the five months following the attacks, dust from the pulverized buildings continued to fill the air of the World Trade Center site. Increasing numbers of New York residents are reporting symptoms of Ground Zero respiratory illnesses.

The dust from the collapsed towers was “wildly toxic”, according to air pollution expert and University of California Davis Professor Emeritus Thomas Cahill.^[2] The thousands of tons of toxic debris resulting from the collapse of the Twin Towers consisted of more than 2,500 contaminants,^[3] more specifically: 50% non-fibrous material and construction debris; 40% glass and other fibers; 9.2% cellulose; and 0.8% of the extremely toxic carcinogen asbestos, as well as detectable amounts of ^[4] lead, and mercury. There were also unprecedented levels of dioxin and PAHs from the fires which burned for three months.^[5] Many of the dispersed substances (asbestos, crystalline silica, lead, cadmium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) are carcinogenic; other substances can trigger kidney, heart, liver and nervous system deterioration. This was well known by the EPA at the time of collapse.

Source: Wikipedia

Head straight for the bathroom

Before you check out your hotel room’s minibar or oceanfront view, give it a thorough bedbug inspection—and until you’ve done that, stash your luggage in the loo.

“Bedbugs are least likely to be found in the bathroom,” says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association. “They don’t like the tile floors and there aren’t as many hiding places. They like to be closer to where people may be sleeping.”

Source: Health.com