Unfortunately, a very high percentage of the global population has trouble falling asleep. Whether due to everyday worries, anxiety, or a specific concern, insomnia is becoming part of more and more people’s lives. Naturally, those affected seek to find a solution that helps them regain a restful and restorative sleep, whether through natural tricks or sleeping pills. In this context, The Washington Post shared on its Instagram profile a trick from Harvard University doctor Trisha Pasricha that can help you fall asleep. It involves a gesture as simple as wearing socks to bed.
“That’s it?” you might think. Yes. Dr. Pasricha explains that raising the temperature of the feet has been shown to induce drowsiness, as heat dilates the blood vessels in the skin, raising body temperature. By experiencing this temperature change, the brain understands that it’s time to sleep, so the rest of the functions also slow down. Incorporating this trick along with a good nighttime routine can completely change the quality of your sleep.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that manifests itself by making it difficult to fall asleep, waking up many times throughout the night. It can also happen that you wake up earlier than the desired time, very early. Have you ever experienced it? It is certainly one of the most frustrating things. Often you can even feel tired, but neither the body nor the mind wants to sleep. Unfortunately, the number of people suffering from this type of sleep disorder is increasing, which can stem from daily stress and rhythm, having a worrying thought in mind, or it can even have a much deeper underlying cause.
How to fight it
There are numerous natural remedies, such as tryptophan or melatonin supplements, but this should not be the only option to consider. It is important to maintain a balanced diet, giving importance to products rich in tryptophan, such as bananas, and avoiding stimulant products that may directly interfere with the quality of our sleep, such as coffee or energy drinks.
It is also important to have good sleep hygiene, avoiding screens before going to bed, as well as consuming stimulating substances close to bedtime. Some people benefit from exercising near bedtime, to take advantage of that tiredness along with the pleasure of a hot shower. However, if you suffer from insomnia, do not forget to consult your doctor.
Natural remedy
In addition to the natural supplements that can be found in herbal shops, or having a good nighttime routine, doing breathing exercises, or listening to relaxing music, a trick has recently gone viral that claims to be more effective than sleeping pills. This advice was posted on The Washington Post’s Instagram profile, where they explain the method of Harvard doctor Dr. Trisha Pasricha.
To put it into practice, you will only need a pair of socks. “Wearing socks to sleep is an easy and natural way to fall asleep faster. It is scientifically proven that warming the feet induces drowsiness and can be as effective as many over-the-counter sleep medications,” explained the doctor. “The idea is that the heat dilates the blood vessels in your skin, which helps warm the body,” he explains.
This is a trick that is completely backed by science and does not require you to take any type of medication. If you suffer from insomnia, what do you have to lose by giving it a try?
