If you tend to drift off to sleep without issue only to wake up in the middle of the night, you’re not alone. According to a 2010 study in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, roughly one third of over 2,000 people surveyed reported waking up at least three nights per week.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
While sleep disturbances only rarely indicate a serious underlying problem, they can leave you feeling exhausted and ultimately take a toll on both your mental and physical health.
If you’re looking to conquer your sleep problems, doctors say the first step is to identify any factors which could be causing them. Read on to learn seven common reasons you could be waking up at night—how to address them.
1. You have a chronic health condition.
If you find yourself waking up throughout the night, a wide range of underlying health conditions could be to blame. “Medical conditions such as chronic pain, acid reflux, and heart disease can all interfere with sleep and cause frequent awakenings throughout the night,” says Warisha Fathima, MBBS, an in-house physician at Allo Health.
She adds that sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are two common underlying conditions which can directly interrupt your sleep. “Sleep apnea is a condition that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep, leading to poor sleep quality and frequent awakenings throughout the night,” she tells Best Life.
“Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.”
Talk to your doctor about your symptoms to determine whether a chronic health condition could be to blame.
2. You’re experiencing medication side effects.
When you speak with your doctor about your sleep concerns, be sure to discuss any medications you’re taking which could be causing night wakings. “Certain medications, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medications, can cause sleep disturbances as a side effect,” explains Fathima.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), those are just the tip of the iceberg. They point out that alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, corticosteroids, statins, and a wide range of other medications have been linked to insomnia.
3. You suffer from anxiety or depression.
Just as your physical health can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, so can your mental health. “Anxiety and depression can both contribute to sleep disturbances. Anxiety can cause racing thoughts and an inability to relax, while depression can lead to difficulty falling asleep and early morning awakenings,” says Fathima.
According to the Sleep Foundation, depression and sleep problems have a bidirectional relationship. “This means that poor sleep can contribute to the development of depression and having depression makes a person more likely to experience sleep troubles,” their experts write, adding that this can make it difficult to know which of the two issues started the cycle.
By speaking with a licensed mental health professional and treating your depression or anxiety with therapy or medication, you may see improvements in your sleep patterns….CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
