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Having
trouble sleeping? Turn on some slow, soothing music. A recent study published
in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, found that people with sleep disorders
such as insomnia showed improvement after such relaxation techniques such as listening
to soft music. Calmtime has a stronger effect than ordinary music because it is
specially designed to calm you, physically and emotionally, thus making sleep
easier. "Since
I was a young child I have always had periods of time when my sleep was disturbed.
I find that if I play Calmtime at a low volume and have it on repeat, it really
helps me, not only to get to sleep, but to stay asleep!" Megan, Cornwall
All
the research mentioned here has been based on using conventional quiet music.
It's worth remembering that Calmtime, with its powerful combination of relaxation
aids is likely to bring you a much stronger effect. Hui-Ling
Lai PhD RN and Marion Good PhD FAAN
LAI H.-L. & GOOD M. (2005) Journal
of Advanced Nursing49(3), 234-244 The
aim of this paper is to report on the cure effects of soft music on sleep quality
in older men and women, as it is believed that sleep may be affected by the ageing
process.
Sixty people aged 60-83 years with difficulty in sleeping were recruited and screened
using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
Participants listened to their choice among six 45-minute sedative music tapes
at bedtime for 3 weeks.
Sleep quality was measured with the PSQI before the study and at three weekly
post-tests. Groups were comparable on demographic variables, anxiety, depressive
symptoms, physical activity, bedtime routine, herbal tea use, napping, pain, and
overall sleep quality.
Music resulted in significantly better sleep quality in the experimental group,
as well as significantly better components of sleep quality, such as: Better
sleep quality/longer sleep duration/ greater sleep efficiency and less sleep disturbance.
Sleep improved weekly, indicating a cumulative effect. The findings provide
evidence for the use of soothing music for sleep in older people. 'I've
always been a light sleeper, waking up at the slightest noise. What I've found
works is to play Calmtime quietly, on repeat, so it goes on all night and I no
longer wake up until it's morning.'
Ann, Derby
While
your baby is sleeping his or her cells are being regenerated, so the quality and
amount of sleep is very important in the development of your infant. Often over-stimulated
babies calm themselves by looking away, yawning or sucking on their lips - this
self-relaxation increases their parasympathetic activity and reduces sympathetic
nervous activity. In
plain English the parasympathic nervous system chills us out and the sympathetic
nervous system stresses us out. The two systems work side by side to create a
flow in the system. However, for example, through lack of sleep, this balance
gets thrown out and your baby is more stressed out then muscles tense up and blood
vessels are constricted. In
this culture, with all its inherent pressures, people's Sympathetic systems very
often stay on guard, unable to give in to the softer, more gentle flows of the
Parasympathetic system. If we're used to being tense we might not even think it
a problem if our baby is also tense - and, as with adults, a chronic state of
tension leads to stress related symptoms and illness. A
helpful site: www.insomniacs.co.uk/home.htm You
will find
details on sleep problems for
on the Mother and Baby page. If
you are in Menopause and having problems with sleep you can purchase an
e book called: The
Menopause - What Every Woman Needs to Know for £4.99 - www.menopausesupport.co.uk. HOME
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