What does the term "sleep hygiene" refer to?

The term "sleep hygiene" refers to a set of practices and habits that are designed to promote consistent and restorative sleep. This concept encompasses various behaviors that individuals can adopt to enhance their sleep quality, such as maintaining a regular sleep schedule, creating a restful environment, engaging in calming pre-sleep activities, and minimizing factors that can disrupt sleep. The ultimate goal of sleep hygiene practices is to improve overall sleep health and help individuals achieve better and more reliable sleep patterns.

While the other options touch on aspects related to sleep, they do not fully capture the essence of sleep hygiene. The environment in which one sleeps is certainly important, but it is just one part of the broader concept. Medical treatments and sleep medications may be necessary in certain cases of sleep disorders, but they do not fall under the category of sleep hygiene, which focuses on lifestyle habits rather than medical interventions.