5 Reasons for Sleep Loss
Twisting and turning? Can’t stay asleep throughout the night? Our high-stress and often sedentary lifestyles, hectic and increased workloads, financial worries, children and relationships, bad health, grief or trauma can all affect a good night’s sleep. Sometimes this leads to chronic insomnia or other sleeping disorders. Perhaps your bedroom is uncomfortably warm, or you have just come back from the gym, eaten a heavy meal or drank coffee too late into the night. All these could be keeping you up. And conditions such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea are also potential sleep loss factors to consider.
Sleep is so crucial for good health; it is important to stay on top of this and find out underlying reasons that may be preventing proper rest. Sleep is when our bodies recharge, regenerate, repair muscle which helps retain memory, maintain the immune system and even manage hunger levels. Any less than a quality 7-8 hours leaves you at risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke, kidney disease and high blood pressure, not to mention the lack of focus and a downright bad mood!
Let’s talk about 5 common reasons for Insomnia:
- Anxiety, Stress and Depression
These are the most common causes of chronic insomnia, and stress is the number one short-term reason for sleeplessness. Anger, worry, grief, trauma or the feeling of being overwhelmed is not conducive for a good night’s sleep, in turn raising stress levels even more! - Using Laptops, Phones or Tablets Right Before Bed
In the digital age this is fairly common however doing this right before bed plays havoc on our Circadian Rhythm, confusing our internal clock. Like a deer in headlights, you’re not going anywhere! It is so sensitive that the bright lights of even an LED alarm clock can prevent us from producing melatonin and reap its benefits. Try more relaxing activities right before bed, such as meditating or reading a book, and wind down properly. - Drugs, Alcohol and Medication
It goes without saying that drugs and alcohol will affect sleep but over-the-counter and prescription medication often can too. Firstly, check medication doesn’t include caffeine (occasionally a feature of painkillers). Blood pressure medication, decongestants, steroids and asthma medication can also affect sleep. Anti-depressants like Prozac continually release serotonin, leaving your body too alert. It can be good to consult a doctor if you find this to be the case, and they might suggest something as simple as changing the time it is taken or advise of other less-impact options. - Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
Also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, RLS is a neurological disorder characterised by the continual compulsion to move the legs due to a feeling of cramp, soreness or unpleasant feeling in the legs. Patient symptoms vary from just inconvenience to extreme suffering of sleeplessness. - Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterised by repeated interruptions in breathing throughout the sleep cycle. Aside from annoying your loved ones with the snoring and snorting that comes with it, it is also possible to stop breathing so left untreated can be fatal. It is most commonly caused by excess weight and obesity as it impacts soft-tissue in the mouth and throat, obstructing the airway.
Want to get out of bed on the right side each morning? Often it can be as simple as giving your body a boost of Sleep Peptides.
