Close Ad

6 Surprising Reasons You're Having Trouble Sleeping Well
Woman with sleep issues
Physical Health

6 Surprising Reasons You're Having Trouble Sleeping Well

Tossing and turning every night and waking up tired?  If you experience insomnia, some of the causes may surprise you. We’ve asked experts for what causes you to lose your zzz’s.woman-sleep-issues

1. Stress

If your thoughts at night keep winding in circles, this cycle can keep you up at night.


“Stress causes so-called stream of consciousness that makes someone think and rethink their problems, life choices, and forthcoming assignments,” says Damian Jacob Sendler, MD and PhD , who is  chief of sexology and clinical research programs at Felnett Health Research Foundation and its clinics in New York City.

Hot Stories

“Stress can provoke other physiological bodily responses that may prevent normal sleep pattern, such as stomach growling, bowel movements, and anxiety-provoked shaking that make keep us awake. “ Try strategies like meditation to wind down your racing thoughts.

2. Frequent travelingWhy Sollo Travel Is a Fast Track to Personal Development

People who are changing time zones often have difficulty with steady sleep.

“Changes in time zone distrust our body’s circadian rhythm that tells us when to fall asleep — flight crews are the most hard-hit by this,” says Dr. Sendler.

“Sleeping in hotels also takes a toll on our sleeping patterns. Most people get to sleep best in their own bed for a number of reasons -- comfort of the bed and quality of indoor air being most important.”

3. You’re getting older

Dr. Sendler says the closer we are to turning 60, our sleep patterns change.

“We tend to be wakeful faster, but ongoing physiological and anatomical changes to the brain alter how it regulates sleeping patterns,” he explains. “Therefore, it is very common for the elderly to experience difficulty sleeping.”

4. Your DNA is causing insomniaSleeping position 1024x679

Jeffrey Durmer, PhD, MD, chief medical officer at FusionHealth / SleepCharge in Atlanta, says there are individuals who are born with a genetic predilection for insomnia.

“This ‘premorbid’ state puts you closer or farther from the ‘clinical threshold’ of insomnia,” says Dr. Durmer. Those who have a genetic lean toward insomnia will be more impacted by life stressors than others.

“For many in this position, sleep is usually short in duration, or they may label themselves as ‘light sleepers.’ This population is the one group for which sleep aids were created,” he says.

Dr. Durmer explains that you may get short term relief using sleep aids, but the actual "cure" for the vast majority with this issue, and most clinically validated treatment, is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, which he says focuses on controlling the perpetuating factors that make insomnia chronic. 

5. Your diet

Having a balanced diet really can help you sleep better.

“Eating too much or too title can disrupt sleep,” says Talia Segal Fidler, nutritional curator at The Lodge at Woodloch, a spa in Hawley, Pennsylvania.

She says having a full stomach before bedtime may cause digestive discomfort that may lead to hard time falling asleep and may also effect sleep quality. Fidler also says late night eating or snacking, may cause heartburn, or acid reflux.

“Lying down with full stomach promotes gastric juices and acid to flow back up-into the esophagus, causing heartburn and disrupt sleep,” she says.

6. What you’re drinking

Watch the glass of wine or the late-day latte which impact your sleep quality.

“Caffeine or other beverages that contain caffeine can disrupt sleep. If you are sensitive to caffeine, try to avoid it in the afternoon and evening,” Fidler recommends. When drinking alcohol, watch the timing of your last drink.

“Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but sleep may become fragmented as the body metabolizes it,” she continues.

“Alcohol may cause insomnia and also dehydration, leaving you tired and depleted the morning after.” Your bladder will also be a reason you make wake-up. “Drinking too close to bedtime promotes the need to go to the bathroom during the night. Avoid drinking fluids a few hours before bedtime,” Fidler adds.

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
People smiling in unison united
Racism Quotes

Racism is considered the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges another race. The term is applied in many areas of a society that perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race or strengthen racial inequalities in education, health care, income, and civil rights.

Ever since the 20th century, the concept of biological race is considered a cultural invention that has no scientific basis. The progress over the past half-century has been impressive, but the nation still has a long way to go to reach true racial equality.

Keep ReadingShow less
Everyday Heroes
hands are put together as part of community volunteer efforts
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

A community is so much more than people sharing a space. It's a living, breathing network of connections and shared experiences. While it's usually defined as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common,” true community runs much deeper than that.

Diversity

Keep ReadingShow less
Quotes