Obesity and sleep

[OakLeaf]

I've never had trouble hearing anything important through earplugs, and my phone alarm is not very loud. I sleep in earplugs whenever I travel, and also on nights when DH is snoring or thrashing. The main issue I have is increasing sensitivity of my ear canals. I can barely wear the Hearos Ultimate Softness any more. I got a pair of custom earplugs made, which are good as long as I sleep on my back (which I do most of the time anyway).

I wonder whether they'll find that it's the same genetic pathways that are switched by any disruption of the circadian rhythm - since I've also read that lack of natural light contributes to obesity. One of the things that's most frustrating to me is learning how important natural light is (both by reading and by personal experience), and yet knowing that for most people in the developed world, being able to sleep in the dark and wake to the light, never mind getting sunlight during the day, are unattainable luxuries.

[ny biker]

I need ear plugs and a white noise machine to sleep with the noise my neighbors make. I had to buy a louder alarm clock because I was not hearing my old one, though I could hear it fine with just the white noise. I think I would probably hear the smoke detector in my condo, but I won't hear the one out in the main hallway. Though I don't think I would hear that anyway, because it's pretty far from my bedroom.

Emily, I agree your mother probably does not have the best environment for sound sleeping, but part of her problem might just be due to getting older, since people tend to sleep for shorter periods as they age.

[emily_in_nc]

I use ear plugs frequently as well. Always when traveling as unexpected noises (like hall doors slamming in hotels when people get in late/leave early) can occur at any time. Even at home, sometimes my DH snores or there are sirens or thunder. I don't like using them as I also find my ear canals sensitive to them, but at times they are a godsend.

I don't worry too much about not being able to hear important sounds as they are not THAT soundproof, and often I only put in one since I spend most of my time on my right side so don't put one in that ear. They do help quite a bit with getting extra sleep I know I need.