Why the Snooze Button Messes With Your Sleep
Submitted by New Jersey Snoring Solutions on Sun 04/19/2020 - 09:00
Do you hit the snooze button on your alarm each morning? Those extra minutes of sleep may seem precious at the time, but the long-term effects can disturb your sleep pattern. West Orange sleep specialist Dr. Ivan Stein discusses why it is better for your health to get rid an alarm with a snooze button and find another way to wake yourself each morning.
The Snooze Button
If an extra five or 10 minutes of sleep is part of every working morning, that additional time is not doing your sleep cycle any favors. Hitting the snooze button disrupts the deepest part of your sleep cycle, REM or dream sleep. This is the restorative part of your sleep cycle, and you do not get it back in those extra minutes after pressing the snooze button.
In fact, using the snooze button can raise your blood pressure and increase your heart rate, because that is what happens when REM sleep is suddenly disrupted.
Sleep Apnea and the Snooze Button
If you suffer from sleep apnea, you should definitely lose the snooze button. Even if you have not received a definite sleep apnea diagnosis, you may have this condition if you snore heavily and the condition has worsened with aging, or if you find yourself waking up several times during the night. Those carrying extra pounds are more vulnerable to sleep apnea, although it can affect anyone.
Sleep apnea can affect your heart, and that is especially true if your blood pressure rises and your heartbeats increase. It is quite possible that regular use of the snooze button is partly responsible for people suffering heart attacks or other cardiovascular issues not long after awakening.
Changing Habits
The best way to wean yourself off the snooze button is by setting the alarm for the time you normally get up post-snooze button, and then get out of bed. Aim for between seven and eight hours of good sleep per night. Try to go to bed at the same time nightly, and turn off devices and avoid other distractions at least half an hour beforehand. If you cannot fall asleep easily on a regular basis, consult a sleep disorder specialist.
Needless to say, replace your alarm clock with an item that does not include a snooze button. If you start waking up spontaneously just before the alarm goes off, that is an indication that your sleep habits have improved.
Sleep Apnea Screening
If you experience any symptoms of sleep apnea, getting screened for the condition right away is vital for your health. Not only should your sleep get better, but you could literally save your life.
For More Information, Contact New Jersey Sleep Apnea Solutions
If you would like to learn more about sleep apnea screening and the best therapy for your sleep apnea, schedule your appointment with Dr. Stein by calling (855) WHY-SNORE or (855) 949-7667 today.
