Can the Right Pajamas Help You Sleep?

What do you wear to bed?  I think for most of us, the nightwear depends on what sort of bedtime activity we're expecting.

Seems obvious, doesn't it?  Going to bed for other than sleep?  We all know that makes for more exciting sleepwear.  Or none.  New partner?  Very exciting.  Long-time couple?  Very exciting, too, if it's a big occasion.  Otherwise, you've probably developed your own style and tastes that are known.

But what type of pajamas would help you enhance sleep: a flannel nightie, the favorite t-shirt and shorts, a sweet cotton cammi-set or nothing at all?  Get set for a surprise, because if you're like me, this was not what came to mind.

According to a new study being presented today in Australia, pajamas made of a light wool are best for a sound, deep and longer sleep.  You weren't expecting that one, were you?  Turns out they have problems sleeping down under, as well.

The choices reviewed by the researcher were cotton, synthetic material, lightweight wool and nude.

Sydney University's Mirim Shin found people fall sleep and stay asleep best in light-weight, long-sleeved wool nightclothes.  Shin said such pajamas have better insulation and absorption qualities than cotton.

Why would you need such insulation?  The research also found an ambient temperature of 17 degrees Celsius (62 degrees Fahrenheit) was better than 22 C (72 F) which is where I sleep best.  Although I haven't actually tried the lower temp.   I might just give that a try this winter.

But where to find them?  The trend has been lightweight cotton or silk pajamas for so long that I had to google around, looking for this set of pajamas:

I found them here on Ebay.com.  Reminds me of a pair of long woolen red underwear that a boyfriend once gave me for Christmas as a joke.  Except these cost less and are significantly better looking, to be honest.

The best part of this research?  According to researcher Shin, the beauty of her finding is that night clothes are easy to modify.  You can certainly change your pajamas a lot easier than you can alter your behavior, sleeping position or oh, well, your partner's behavior at night.  And maybe in doing so, you might get to great sleep!

Sleep: How Much Is Too Much?

You're reading this at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, as your having "one of those" difficult times, aren't you?  So at this point, you probably can't imagine the possibility of getting too much sleep.  But it can happen and it also has negative health effects.

The federal government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a new study on our favorite topic, sleep, in the October issue of the journal Sleep, showing that in fact, too much sleep has health consequences.  But here's the surprise: the 

Too little sleep and you're groggy, mentally absent, struggling to take care of your physical needs of exercise and generally grumpy.  That's the easy stuff.

You're also at risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and mental distress.  Sounds like a description of the ills of modern life, doesn't it?

To get their results, CDC researchers examined data on more than 54,000 people ages 45 and above in 14 states.  They found the vast majority (65%) were "optimal sleepers," getting 6 to 9 hours of sleep per night.  About one third (31%) were "short sleepers," getting 6 hours or less per night.  Only a small percentage (4%) were "long sleepers" who slept an average of 10 hours or more per night.  No surprises there, right?

We already know what happens to the short sleepers: stressed out, heart and blood pressure issues, "Little Mr. Cranky Pants" at the office.  But what is surprising is, they found the same chronic illnesses among the "long sleepers," except links with coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes were even stronger.

Dr. M. Safwan Badr, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), says the evidence is clear:

"Sleeping longer doesn't necessarily mean you're sleeping well."

He says people should understand that sleep affects health: a healthy, balanced lifestyle is not just about following a good diet and staying fit, but also getting the right quantity and quality of sleep.

Study co-author Dr. Janet B. Croft, a senior chronic disease epidemiologist in the Division of Population Health at the CDC, recommends doctors looking after chronically ill people begin with questions, regarding their mental health, body weight and sleep patterns and quality.

Have you noticed any of these issues in your life, as you deal with your sleeping patterns?