Health Conditions That Could Prevent Good Sleep
Just as sleep deprivation can cause a multitude of health issues, certain conditions can cause restlessness and disrupted sleep patterns. Sleep loss isn’t an inevitability of life. If you’re experiencing disrupted sleep patterns, seek the medical advice of your physician for treatment.
We want our patients well rested and healthy. Keep reading to learn about common conditions that cause restlessness and how to improve your sleep.
Heartburn Issues
Smokers, pregnant women and obese individuals commonly experience heartburn, which can prevent them from getting a good night’s rest. Rather than always resorting to over-the-counter medication for chronic heartburn, seek the advice of a medical professional to make sure the heartburn isn’t leading to more than disrupted sleep. There are alternative routes to eliminating your heartburn that can be safely done from home.
- Reduce amount of food you’re eating or eat smaller, more frequent meals
- Avoid alcohol or drinks with caffeine
- Limit your intake of fatty and spicy foods
- Don’t lie down after eating
- Try to eat meals at least 3 hours before bedtime
Heart disease is another culprit of sleeplessness. A compromised heart or arteries may cause you to wake up with a painful or uncomfortable tightness in your chest. Sleep apnea may also be related to a gradual failing of the heart.
Breathing Disorders
Chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma can all lead to coughing, which can keep you up at night and prevent you from falling asleep. Those who are asthmatic seem to be especially vulnerable to suffering from night attacks caused by compromised lungs, which can force the individual out of a deep sleep.
Pain From Musculoskeletal Disorders
Fibromyalgia, arthritis and other musculoskeletal disorders can be so painful enough that it’s nearly impossible to fall asleep. In addition to sleeping poorly, these disorders can cause a person to wake up with soreness and throbbing throughout the body. Currently, over 50 percent of those who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia have disrupted deep sleep cycles.
Thyroid Problems
Individuals with overactive thyroids commonly experience fatigue, disturbances in their sleep and difficulty shutting out stimulants. Even if those with thyroid problems are able to fall asleep, there’s a good chance they’ll wake often during the night. Alternatively, a person’s thyroid can be underactive, which can result in a need for more sleep and sleeping during the daytime. Often these individuals will experience constant fatigue, no matter if they’ve slept the night before.
Nocturia
Having to get up several times during the night to urinate can damage proper sleep patterns, which is a condition known as nocturia. There are several causes and treatments of the condition. Common causes include diabetes, prostate issues, and excess alcohol intake. Those who experience the frequent need to urinate at night and aren’t diagnosed with kidney disease or nocturia could instead have diabetes. In addition to urinating, diabetics frequently sweat at night and experience changes in their blood sugar levels. Effective treatment options include medical care and proper disease management.
Anxiety and Depression
Those who are in good physical health might have poor mental health that’s keeping them up at night. Mental conditions such as anxiety can cause a person to experience panic attacks while sleeping or to wake up early. Suffering from depression can lead to sleeping during the daytime and waking up during early morning hours, both of which can alter sleep patterns and keep you from the most essential sleep stage, REM sleep. To learn more about how depression affects your health, click here (hyperlink blog on physical symptoms of depression).
At Golden Triangle Emergency Center, we understand the effects sleeplessness can have on your daily life. Sleep play an invaluable role in maintain and protecting your health. GTEC is here for your 24/7 with prompt, compassionate emergency care for major or minor ailments. Let us know if you have any tips and tricks for beating restlessness!