What Your Sleep Issues Reveal About Your Health
There are so many reasons why sleep is essential for your health. It is how your body stays healthy and keeps your immune system strong. Studies have shown that lack of sleep can lead to a plethora of health problems including obesity, heart disease, and potential strokes. Here are a few common sleep problems and what they may say about your health and how you can address the issues.
You Can’t Get Comfortable
You may find yourself tired at the end of the day but you simply cannot get comfortable once you crawl into bed. If you have injuries or back problems keeping you from getting cozy at bedtime research potential poses that might alleviate your pain. For example, you could search the internet for sciatica sleep positions to find a way to lay down that won’t worsen your nerve pain.
If you happen to be pregnant, look into different supportive pillows that might help you relax through the night better. Some people suffer from an antsy feeling in their legs as soon as they retire to bed. Commonly known as Restless Leg Syndrome, this urge to move your legs can be helped with talking to a doctor and taking medication to help relieve the feeling. Whatever the reason you can’t quite get comfortable, there are so many options to remedy the problem. Look for specialty pillows or mattresses with new technology targeted to increase your rest through the night.
You Can’t Fall Asleep
Maybe you just never feel tired once you are laying in your bed with the lights out. It could be that you are just an overactive thinker and you cannot turn your brain off at bedtime. If you find yourself awake and thinking too much when you would rather be sleeping, consider getting a journal that you leave on your nightstand. When you can’t stop turning your wheels, start writing down your thoughts. The simple act of recording them can help your brain stop churning.
Another reason you might have trouble falling asleep is any caffeine you might consume throughout the day. As you age, you won’t be able to handle caffeinated beverages quite the same way as when you were young. Consider eliminating caffeine entirely or at least not consuming any caffeine after lunchtime.
You Wake up And Stay Up
It’s the worst– you fall asleep easily and get a few good hours in, but then smack dab in the middle of the night you are awake and can’t quickly nod back off. You might need to limit your alcohol consumption in the evenings to tackle this problem. Try to not have any adult beverages after dinnertime, or at the very least stop consuming them up to two hours before you want to hit the hay. If that doesn’t help the issue, try abstaining completely to see if it solves your wake-up problem.
You Never Feel Rested
Maybe you hit the snooze alarm fifty times before you finally roll out of bed, or you are just desperate for a nap every afternoon. Either way, always being tired can be a real drag. If your sleep isn’t interrupted by the other issues listed above, you might just need to be more diligent about setting up a solid sleep routine. Determine how many hours you need to feel well-rested and then make a plan to help you fall asleep on time.
There are also some sleep conditions which can affect how rested you feel. Some of these conditions include excessive snoring, sleep apnea, or constant bathroom trips in the middle of the night. If you find yourself being awoken by any of these then go ahead and call your doctor to discuss the problem.
Water, food, and sleep are the three critical things you need every day to be healthy. You certainly wouldn’t deny yourself water or food, so be sure you are doing your best to get optimal sleep. If you find yourself struggling with a sleep issue make sure you take the time to resolve the problem and get back to better sleep.
