3 Major Causes of Sleeplessness and some solutions
We’ve all been through it. The minutes… and then hours… are ticking away, and we are tossing and turning in our beds. Why is it that so often we are unable to sleep, even when we are tired or know that we have a busy day ahead? There are a few factors that could be affecting your shuteye. Here are three of the leading causes of sleeplessness.
1. Your Mood (Especially if You Are Experiencing Depression).
One thing that many depression sufferers complain of is a lack of sleep. In fact, the consistent inability to doze off is a common sign of the illness. One of the worst parts is that you may be extra tired on a regular basis if you are feeling glum. Anxiety can also creep in for those who are suffering from depression, and it wreaks havoc on slumber.
Potential Solutions:
One thing that can really help with sleeplessness related to a down mood is to exercise hard while you are awake. This can work to raise your brain’s serotonin levels and regulate your sleep cycle. A minimum of 45 minutes’ worth of activity before you eat dinner should help.
2. Taking Specific Medications
Believe it or not, taking certain pharmaceuticals can also carry the side effects of sleeplessness. Some examples of these are antidepressants, corticosteroids and blood pressure remedies.
Potential Solutions:
If you suspect a medication has been causing you sleepless nights, inform your doctor and ask if a substitution can be made. Or, better yet, as soon as you are being prescribed a medicine, ask your doctor and pharmacist what the side effects are.
3. Abnormal Breathing
When you stop breathing—or start doing so irregularly—you don’t get the proper amount of oxygen into your brain. As a result, the brain sends a signal to wake you up so that the problem can be remedied. This can also cause you to feel unrested in the mornings even if you have slept.
Potential Solutions:
First try do-it-yourself fixes like using pillows to remain sleeping on your side or investing in breathing strips at the drug store. If those ideas don’t help, go to an ear, nose and throat doctor.
One thing that can seriously help discomfort while trying to doze off is having a comfortable mattress. If you think this could be part of the problem for you, go to a website such as http://www.boydmemoryfoammattresses.com/ to check out some cozy new options.
One of Mary’s favorite things to write about is health. For more information regarding http://www.boydmemoryfoammattresses.com/, please visit website.com
Cathy says
Abnormal breathing can be a huge contributor to daytime sleepiness. Most people think their busy lives are the culprit for daytime sleepiness. We struggle to meet our busy schedules, stay up too late, and even sleep with our smartphones or tablets next to our bed. The next day, we walk around yawning and guzzling coffee to stay awake in the afternoon. What some people don’t realize is that their sleepiness could be a sign that they have be obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much when you are asleep causing your brain to “wake up” enough so that you can gasp for air; this disrupts REM sleep.Sadly, between 12 million and 18 million adults have obstructive sleep apnea. In my business, I see meet all kinds of people with sleep apnea. Many of them never knew anything about it until they went to to a doctor to discuss their daytime fatigue. There are also home tests that people can take to see if the have it.