Treating your sleep can help set you on the path to a more energised life. Let’s first pin the reason for your sleeplessness to figure out why you're not getting a good night's rest. Here are a few reasons that can cause poor sleep:
Inconsistent sleep times can interfere with your sleep-wake cycle. Our bodies are programmed to have regular and routine sleep to function better every morning. When we have different sleep times it can disrupt our bodies' natural rhythm.
Day-to-day living can be stressful which can interfere with sleep. We recommend starting a relaxing routine before bed such as a warm bath or shower. If you find that your stress is chronic, your sleeplessness could relate to your mental health.
Too much Caffeine can impact your body's natural sleep rhythm, opt for a lighter dose if you need an extra boost during the day such as green tea. Alcohol might make you feel sleepy at first but can give you poor quality of sleep.
Ongoing poor sleep can lead to a number of problems. Take note of the following few if you are starting to see signs of sleep deprivation :
Lack of sleep can make you feel more anxious than usual. However, anxiety can also make it more difficult to get to sleep and stay asleep.
When researchers gave people who were sleep deprived a hand-eye coordination task or tested them in a driving simulator, they responded just as bad or worse than people who were drunk 4. If you’re sleep deprived and you drink alcohol this effect is magnified.
The effects of bad sleep could increase your appetite, particularly for high-carb foods as the body is desperately seeking added energy. Add that and the decreased energy during the day, weight gain becomes a common symptom of lack of sleep.
If you know you aren’t getting enough sleep or are constantly feeling lethargic, you should determine if you’re experiencing a sleeping disorder. Here are common sleep disorders that might affect you:
Sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue in the back of your throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway, causing you to momentarily stop breathing and snore loudly during sleep. While many people with sleep apnea aren’t even aware that they have the sleeping disorder, it can lead to serious health problems over time such as stroke, high blood pressure, and weight gain. We recommend that you consult these symptoms with your GP.
Insomnia can be prompted by stress, illness, or anything that can cause you to feel distressed and upset. An ideal treatment involves dealing with the root of the problem, and professional advice should be sought.
Snoring can be disruptive to a household. There are many underlying issues that could cause snoring that may be able to be treated with lifestyle changes or even a snoring mouth guard. However, snoring can also be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea as they share similar "sounds".
If you have the urge to move your legs (or arms) during the night, you may have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). It may be a habitual movement or one prompted by an ache, tingle or uncomfortable. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily.
References
1. Alhola, Paula and Päivi Polo-Kantola, Sleep Deprivation: Impact on Cognitive Performance (2007) Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2656292/
2. Buhaets, Amanda, Caffeine: Health Navigator NZ Health Navigator New Zealand https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living/c/caffeine/
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Patient
Do these symptoms or signs sound true to you or a loved one? Then complete our Free Sleep Assessment to find our your risk for sleep disorders such as Insomnia and Sleep Apnea. Our Sleep Assessment takes 5 minutes to fill and you can share the results with your GP for further advice.
TAKE OUR FREE SLEEP ASSESSMENTOrder your own Advanced Home Sleep Test here. This test may be claimed on your health insurance depending on your policy. Please click enquire and we will be in touch about conducting your advanced sleep test.
Pricing will depend on the exact details of the test and the requirements of your referring doctor.
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