What’s Causing Your Sleeping Problems?
Lately, you’ve been feeling more tired than usual. You haven’t been sleeping well, and your partner is telling you that your snoring is driving them crazy.
You would love to feel energized when you wake up. But work and family obligations leave you no choice but to carry on. You are yawning throughout the day -– and find yourself drinking two or three cups of coffee just to make it to the end.
Eventually, this just becomes your routine. It’s hard to take extra time out of the day to figure out what are the causes of restless sleep, but you don’t have to do it alone.
What Factors Can Be Affecting Your Sleep?
Did you know that sleep-related problems affect 50 to 70 million Americans of all ages and socioeconomic classes?
Now that you know this, you’re probably wondering what are the causes of restless sleep? Or at least the most common ones.
Well, there are several possible causes depending on your lifestyle, age, or even genetic history. While sleep problems may only last for a short period of time in response to stressful situations, if they persist, the underlying causes might be more than just stress.
Late Working Hours
If you have long night shifts, your biological clock may be out of sync with your daily activities. This can affect your circadian rhythm and make sleeping and waking much more difficult.
Genetic History
Sleep problems, like narcolepsy that affects your sleep regulation or restless leg syndrome, may be genetic. Talk to the members of your family and ask if they also struggle with sleep disorders.
Allergies
Look, if you’re sniffling, feeling congested, and can’t breathe through your nose, allergies are likely what’s causing your trouble sleeping at night. Thankfully, Dr. Matorin knows how to help you with this.
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depression are mental health disorders that can significantly impact your sleep. Furthermore, some antidepressant medications can interfere with sleep as well.
Lifestyle
Generally, smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol at night may cause you to run into sleep problems.
What Are The Symptoms of Sleeping Disorders?
For some sleep disorders, recognizing the symptoms can be difficult. If you’re feeling constantly fatigued during the day or restless at night, meeting with a specialist might give you some answers.
Additionally, if you’ve ever been told you snore at night, you may have a condition called sleep apnea. This sleeping disorder cuts off your airflow as you sleep, making it hard to rest at night.
Ready to resolve all of your sleep problem symptoms? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Matorin.
[Related: Sleep Apnea Equipment to Get You Through the Night]
How to Improve Sleep
Consider seeing a healthcare provider if nothing seems to be working for you. But for now, there are some strategies you can use to get a better night’s rest.
For example, try to avoid stimulants such as coffee, soda, or tea. Ideally, it is best to avoid these drinks at least four hours before bedtime. Additionally, don’t smoke tobacco or drink alcohol for four hours before bed as well.
If you don’t currently exercise, try to incorporate a bit of physical activity into your week. If you take multiple naps throughout the day, do your best to cut these down to 20 to 30 minutes — or cut them out of your routine completely!
If you bring your phone or computer to bed or watch TV right before you’re supposed to sleep, it’s best to break this habit quickly. Keep all screens away from your bed. If you have to check your device, consider using a blue light filter to block out blue light.
Lastly, establish a regular sleep routine. Going to bed and waking up at consistent times will dramatically improve your sleep quality.
Dr. Matorin: Good Sleep Is Our Priority
It’s time to rest easy again. Because when you schedule an appointment with Dr. Matorin, we can uncover the root cause of your sleep problems and find a solution that will bring you instant relief.
