Shannon GreerWe spend roughly a third of our lives in our bedrooms. So its not surprising that the state of your boudoir can affect not just the quality of your sleep and your sex life (duh), but also your stress levels, your allergy symptoms, even your exposure to toxins.
Like a lot of us, I suffer from allergies, I dont sleep as well as Id like, and Im definitely always looking for ways to improve my health. So I invited five healthy-living pros—an allergist, a sleep doc, a green-lifestyle specialist, a stress expert, and a sex coach—into my house to assess the state of my bedroom. Turn the page for the surprising health and happiness hazards the experts uncovered, and their tips for turning my bedroom (and yours!) into a truly restorative retreat.
First visit: the allergist
Make mold history My house was built in the 1880s and has suffered water damage over the years. One leak in particular is ongoing—no one can seem to fix it! And sure enough, there are telltale signs of mold on the walls, says David Fost, MD, an allergist
socks-on-bed Next on the hit list is dust mites, which excrete a protein in their feces that can trigger sneezing and a runny nose. You cant see them, but Dr. Fost knows theyre there—mainly because I havent taken any precautions to keep them out. "In humid areas like the Northeast, where we are, a mattress will double its weight in 10 years from dust mites," Dr. Fost says. So Im basically sleeping in bug poop. Nice. The fix is to use hypoallergenic encasements on my mattress and pillows (Dr. Fost recommends Mission: Allergy). I also need to wash my sheets weekly in hot water, lower the thermostat (to 68 degrees in winter), and again, keep humidity levels low. It will also help, he says, to use a HEPA-filter vacuum and to clean with microfiber cloths that trap dust instead of launching it into the air. The good news: Dr. Fost does approve of the area rug I have on the floor instead of allergen-trapping wall-to-wall carpeting. Phew.
Next Page: A sleep pro weighs in [ pagebreak ]Next, a sleep pro weighs in
Let there be (less) light The first thing the sleep expert notes is that my near-transparent shades dont block out the moonlight—let alone streetlights at night. "Melatonin, a hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle, is secreted at night in response to darkness," explains Samuel L. Krachman, DO, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. "Light interferes with its production, making it harder to fall into a deep, restful sleep." In fact, two new studies suggest that exposure to light at night could affect not only your snooze quality but also your blood pressure, glucose levels, ability to regulate body temperature—even cancer risk. He suggests adding blackout curtains, or any opaque shade, to darken the room.
Stop the log-sawing My main sleep complaint, though, is my husbands snoring. Can Dr. Krachman help with that? His suggested fix: a sleep positioner—a belt with soft foam attachments that will keep my husband from sleeping on his back, which tends to bring on the snoring. For my part, I can wear earplugs and/or run a white-noise machine to dampen the sound.
The green experts take
Detox your pillow. Horrified. Thats the only word to describe the reaction of environmental-lifestyle expert Danny Seo when he spies my memory-foam pillow. He tells me that the petroleum-based synthetic foam my pillow is made of can emit volatile organic compounds
electronics-bedside [ pagebreak ]Finally, a word from the sexpert
Nix mood-killers My snuggly flannel comforter is deemed a liability by sex coach Amy Levine. "Cozy is not sexy," she says. Also not sexy: family photos. I can see how the 70s-era picture of me, my sister, and my dad on my nightstand is not exactly libido-boosting. Another major no-no is lack of privacy—we have no locks on our door to keep out the kids!
Up the romance factor Levine recommends adding items to my room that make me feel sexually confident and empowered. Though the specifics are different for everyone, she says, some suggestions include an inviting chair to use as an alternate lovemaking spot, fresh flowers, and sensual touching objects (think silk and feathers). We do have night table drawers for stashing "pleasure props." Now if we could just lock the door, resist the siren song of the cozy comforter, and actually use those props!
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Shannon GreerOther tips and tricks for a healthy boudoir
• Lose those pillows: Sneeze-proof your bed with hypoallergenic casings on your pillows and mattress. And get rid of throw pillows, which can be a breeding ground for dust mites.
• Kick off your shoes: Better yet, leave those kicks out of the bedroom altogether. They track in toxins from the outside world.
• Less is more: Candles cast a sexy glow, but some can also emit irritating VOCs. Stick to just one or two that are 100% soy.
• Time to unplug: Electronic devices can stress you out, interfere with sleep, and sabotage your sex life. "Unless youre a doctor on call, you dont need a BlackBerry by the bed," says sleep expert Samuel L. Krachman, DO
So, did the tips help?
My first priority after the experts left was to move the electronics off my nightstand. I also cleared away the nostalgic photos and piles of magazines. Since buying new curtains isnt our most urgent home-improvement need, Im exploring what a darker room would feel like by donning a soft sleep mask instead. I actually think it helps me fall asleep faster. (Unfortunately, my husband has resisted trying the anti-snoring sleep positioner.) My new pillow and mattress encasements are making the bed a bit crinkly, but Im hoping theyll have me breathing easier. Finally, weve decided to have that pesky leak repaired for good. Itll be a big hassle (well have to rip out and replace the whole wall) and a major investment, but if it helps keep us healthy, itll be worth it.