Poor sleep causes
November 26th, 2009
Around one in every five adults does not get as much sleep as they desire. This is called poor sleep which is synonymous to insomnia. Poor sleep is not only about waking for long periods between sleep, but also about not being able to get off to sleep, waking up too early, or even not feeling refreshed after a night’s sleep. Since I was young, my parents would usually tell me to get at least eight hours of sleep. However, recent studies show that different people need different amounts of sleep depending on age. As we get older, it is normal to sleep less. So what really causes poor sleep? Here’s a rundown of the major reasons why many people suffer from sleep problems.
1. Stress
People who are stressed out normally suffer from sleep problems. Stress, as many medical experts say, is the primary cause of disrupted sleep. It is often difficult for people to switch off problems especially from work during bedtime. This is the reason why most executives who have drilled their minds the whole day would get less sleep. Oftentimes, they wake up in the middle of their sleep and it becomes hard for them to go back to sleep again. Relaxation is important to fight stress in order to get proper sleep. Go to a spa, or catch up with friends after work to help relieve some burdensome thoughts off your mind. For some people, taking natural sleeping aids that contain sleep enhancers such as melatonin, chamomile, valerian root and wild jujube seed extract would yield to a “stress-free” sleep.
2. Depression and anxiety
People who suffer from depression and anxiety have the tendency to develop abnormal sleeping patterns. They tend to think about their problems too deeply to the extent that they don’t want to sleep anymore. Some people even cry in between sleep, making it even more difficult for them to get down sleeping again. Other symptoms of depression also include low mood, poor concentration, tearfulness and persistent negative thoughts Depression and anxiety often lead to stress. They are interconnected factors of poor sleep. If this happens regularly and becomes a major reason why you don’t get to sleep properly for a week, it is best to get counseling or consult a psychologist.
3. Illnesses
Many types of illnesses keep some people awake at night For example, people who suffer from cough and colds would have some difficulty hitting the sack. I remember during high school when I had asthma. I often wake up several times in the middle of the night to take some medications. The next day, I would feel sleepy during class and ft greatly affected my performance in school. Some illnesses, on the other hand, cause pain. This is even worse because chronic pain wouldn’t make people sleep at all. If this happens, ask your doctor about pain management itchiness caused by certain types of skin problems would also lead to sleep inconvenience. Consult a dermatologist for treatment, or maybe, it’s time to check your mattresses if there are bed bugs.
4. Stimulants
There are three common stimulants that make people awake all night, and eventually develop sleep problems. The first culprit is alcohol, which is often mistaken to induce sleep. However, alcohol actually leads to broken sleep and early morning wakefulness. Second is caffeine which is found in tea, coffee, some softdrink products and surprisingly, chocolates! Caffeine is a popular stimulant and may cause disrupted sleep. Third most common stimulant is nicotine. So for people who smoke often, this may be the time to check your sleep patterns so you’ll find out if it already affects you.
5. Sleep apnoea
Sleep apnoea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. This condthon sometimes occurs to people who snore. This is caused by the collapsing or narrowing of airways as the person falls asleep. ft is a very inconvenient condition because it lets the person wake up many times during the night to breathe properly. This results to daytime tiredness and grogginess. However, experts clarifr that not all people who snore suffer from sleep apnoea. People who snore but are able to sleep well may not be suffering from sleep apnoea. lfyou happen to experience the symptoms of disrupted sleep due to breathing problems, then I suggest you consult the doctor and seek medication.