If you want to sleep better, it’s not just about getting to bed earlier. But sometimes, we can experience a variety of sleep issues for a number of reasons. Perhaps you have not been able to sleep properly for a long time, or it’s been a recent issue. But if you experience any of the following, this might be why.
Sleep Apnea
This is a very common occurrence, and often goes undiagnosed because it’s classed as “snoring too much.” It occurs when the upper airway becomes blocked, which stops you from breathing for a short period of time. This can also cause daytime sleepiness if left untreated and could increase your risk of stroke and heart attack, but it’s also something that you can fix with special devices. You can find a dentist for sleep apnea that can recommend oral appliances.
Circadian Rhythm Disorders
We have an internal clock that dictates our sleep and alertness patterns. When we have any abnormalities, this can result in circadian rhythm disorders. If you have an erratic sleep pattern, for example, if you work shifts or experience that feeling of jet lag, this could highlight a circadian rhythm disorder.
Snoring
Snoring can be a problem for the person trying to sleep, but also if your partner snores loudly, this could keep you up in the night. This could highlight sleep apnea, but if you are someone who experiences mild breathing issues like asthma, this could be the underlying cause. There are numerous snoring solutions, such as anti-snore chin straps, special throat sprays, but also make some changes to your lifestyle. For example, if you are overweight, this can cause snoring.
Medication
Do you take any medication that causes sleeplessness? There are many sorts of medications that are widely consumed which can cause sleeplessness. SSRI antidepressants, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, and corticosteroids can be major culprits. There are also supplements that can cause sleeplessness, such as glucosamine and chondroitin.
What Is Your Lifestyle Like?
It’s a natural question to ask, but the lifestyle choices you make could impact your ability to have good quality sleep. If you consume a lot of alcohol, this could contribute to sleep issues. Likewise, if you consume caffeine too late in the day, it can impact your ability to sleep. The problem with caffeine is it becomes a cycle that we struggle to get out of. We use caffeine to wake ourselves up, but we struggle to sleep at night, and so the cycle continues.
Depression or Anxiety
Even if you are sleeping properly if you feel tired when you wake up there could be a lot on your mind. Anxiety can cause the brain to keep firing, and if you’re not getting adequate sleep, this could be the reason why you are feeling on the go all the time. It is important to get adequate rest, but also recognize that the basic reasons can cause sleep problems. We look for more complex issues. But nine times out of ten, it is the basic things.
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