DDHK. ORG – Often waking up in the middle of the night, is a problem for some people. According to a 2010 study in Journal of Psychosomatic Research, a third of the more than 2.000 people surveyed reported waking up at least three nights per week.
Reporting from Republika, although sleep disturbances are rarely indicative of a serious underlying problem, they can make a person feel tired and ultimately take a toll on mental and physical health.
If you want to overcome sleep problems, quoting from the Best Life page, Saturday (20/5/2023), the doctor said the main step is to identify what factors can cause it, here are seven causes:
- Have Chronic Health Conditions
If you wake up all night, various underlying health conditions can be the cause. “Medical conditions such as chronic pain, acid reflux and heart disease can all disrupt sleep and cause frequent awakenings throughout the night,” says a doctor at Allo Health, Warisha Fathima.
He said, sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are two common conditions that can directly interfere with sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start during sleep, resulting in poor quality sleep and frequent awakenings throughout the night.
Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes an uncomfortable sensation in the legs, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms, to determine if a chronic health condition could be to blame.
- Experiencing Side Effects of Treatment
When talking to your doctor about sleep problems, be sure to discuss any medications you're currently taking that may be causing you to wake up at night.
"Certain drugs, such as antidepressants and blood pressure medications, can cause sleep disturbances as a side effect," said Fathima.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), that's just the tip of the iceberg. They demonstrated that alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, corticosteroids, statins, and various other drugs, have been associated with insomnia.
- Suffering from Anxiety or Depression
Just as physical health can make it difficult for a person to fall asleep or stay asleep, so can mental health.
“Anxiety and depression, both can cause sleep disturbances. Anxiety can cause racing thoughts and an inability to relax, while depression can cause difficulty falling asleep and waking up early,” said Fathima.
According to the Sleep Foundation, depression and sleep problems have a two-way relationship. This means that sleep deprivation can contribute to the development of depression, and depression makes it more likely that a person will have sleep problems.
- Drink Alcohol Often
Alcoholic beverages can cause a person to wake up frequently at night. A psychologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, United States, Jennifer Martin, said that alcohol is 'initially anesthetizing', but because it is metabolized, it becomes very active.
That's because while the body is initially processing alcohol, it dampens impulses between nerve cells, allowing a person to have a good night's sleep. However, after alcohol has been fully processed, many people experience a 'rebound passion'. “You pay for it in the second half of the night,” he said.
- Have Poor Sleep Hygiene
If you keep waking up at night, it may be due to your habit of going to bed earlier at night. "Bad sleep habits, such as using electronic devices before going to bed, irregular sleep schedules, and sleeping in noisy or uncomfortable environments, can all cause sleep disturbances," said Fathima.
- Consuming Caffeine Too Afternoon
Whether from coffee, tea, chocolate or soft drinks, the habit of consuming caffeine can also keep a person awake at night, especially if you do it too late.
"Caffeine is a stimulant that can interfere with sleep," said Fathima.
Experts say caffeine can take up to five hours to be processed by the body, meaning one should stop consuming caffeine long before the desired bedtime.
- Diet Can Interfere with Sleep
Diet can have a big impact on health in general, and sleep patterns in particular. Fathima said there were several mistakes that might be made while eating, which could cause a person to frequently wake up at night.
For example, he points out that eating spicy food can cause heartburn and indigestion, which can wake a person feeling uncomfortable. Eating foods packed with sugar can also cause sleep disturbances.
“Consuming sugary foods and drinks before going to bed can cause spikes in blood sugar levels that can disrupt sleep. This is because the body releases insulin to regulate blood sugar, which can disrupt the body's natural sleep process," he said. [DDHK News]
