We live in a world where there many demands are brought to bare on us. Both doctors, specialists and even psychiatrists report that stress levels are on the rise not only in the United States but also in the rest of the world. Many people do various things to cope with stress and stress can affect every part of our private, business, academic and even marital life.



Stress affects people from all walks of life; women, men and even children. Have you ever noticed that sleep is one thing that gets affected universally when stress levels rise? Studies show that 65% of all people in United States loss sleep at least once a week because of stress. That spells a major people with the majority of the population. Unfortunately because of their biological make-up more women than men succumb to stress and loss sleep because of it.

Sleeplessness does affect stress levels in a paradoxical way. Less sleep aggravates levels of stress while at the same time those same high stress levels result in lost sleep! People with relatively less sleep hours record higher stress levels. These higher stress levels are characterized by memory loss, lack of focus and irritability. Stress occurs typically when people worry about what is happening in their life, like finances, their safety or job security. With all these "worries" flying around in their head they cannot sleep soundly. Sleeplessness therefore, is synonymous with stress.

In order for each of us to cope with the stress that we face everyday, it is recommended that people take adequate steps to ensure that they get enough sleep. Below are the recommended:

1. Go to bed and wake up at the same time. This ensures that the body's internal clock is optimized.

2. The environment where you sleep should be conducive to rest. The room should be dark enough with minimal noise and should be warm.

3. Ensure that the mattress and pillow are new and comfortable. Sleep number mattresses have revolutionized the way people sleep and can be a worthwhile investment.

4. Do not eat a heavy meal 2 to 43 hours before you sleep. If you eat close to sleeping make sure the meal is light.

5. Exercise also helps sleep. Ensure that you exercise regularly and also get plenty of rest in between.

6. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine-laced drinks because although relaxing, they have chemical components, which interrupt sleep.