People Recommend One's Make Sleeping Fall Bed Trouble

Many Americans suffer from "sleeplessness," or an inability to fall asleep, even when they are very tired. Some people "swear by" (say that something works very well) traditional "remedies" (cures; thing that one can do to solve a medical problem), although other people don't think they work.

Often drinking a glass of warm milk before falling asleep can be helpful. Other people recommend "counting sheep," or lying in bed and closing one's eyes, imagining that one sees sheep jumping over a "gate" (a small door that opens in a fence) and counting them one at a time. If the sleeplessness is caused by loud noises, people might try wearing "earplugs" (small pieces of plastic that are put in one's ears to block noises).

Many people say that the best way to cure sleeplessness is to change one's "bedtime routine" (the things that one does before falling asleep each night). For example, eating right before bed can make it difficult to fall asleep, so some people recommend not eating after 6:00. They also recommend listening to quiet music and not reading the news or thinking about work before bedtime.

Other people focus on the bedroom itself. They might recommend getting softer "sheets" (thin pieces of fabric that one sleeps above and below while lying on a bed) or a warmer "comforter" (a heavy blanket, sometimes filled with feathers). Heavier "curtains" (fabric that hangs over the window) that make the room darker can also make it easier to fall asleep. Finally, it can help to make sure that the bed is used only for sleeping - not for reading or watching TV. That way, when one lies in bed, one's brain knows that it is time to sleep.