Neil B. Kavey, MD, Director, Sleep Disorders Center, New York Presby- terian Hospital | The sleep specialist. Try behavior changes and proper use of medication. At night, keep away from bright light. In the morning, open the shades and go out for a walk, to tell your brain, "This is, the beginning of the day." You can try OTC sleep aids, but if you suffer for more than three weeks, see a doctor. Drugs are safe when used properly, and better than the consequences of not sleeping. | Cerald Lemole, MD Associate Medical Director, Christiana Care Center for Heart and Vascular Heal- th, Wilmington, Delaware. | The alternative source. Stress often plays a role in insomnia, so try to change your reaction to it. Don't exercise or eat at the end of the day, and avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. Enjoying a warm bath can help. Also, try taking l,000 mg of calcium (钙) (it may calm your muscles and nerves, helping you sleep ). | Lisa Derosimo, MD, Owner, The Weight and Wellness Center, Jupiter, Florida | The nutritionist. Go to bed and get up at the same time daily. Keep your room dark and quiet, and remove distractions (no working in bed). Have a cup of herbal (草药) tea, such as chamomile (甘菊), to relax your body. And remember, people who eat a healthy diet of whole grains, fruits and vege-tables, and low-fat protein feel better and sleep better. | Sandra McLanah- an, MD, Medical Director, Integral Health Center, Buckingham, Virginia | The mind/body pro. Lying in bed, starting from your legs and moving up to your head, tense your muscles one at a time, then release. Your body will feel more relaxed, like a rubber band after it's been stretched. And try alternate-nostril (鼻孔交换的) breathing. Exhale (呼气) through one nostril, using your fingers to close the opposite nostril. Breathe in and out; then switch back and forth. |
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