Maybe you’ve noticed that when you have a glass of two of alcohol, it helps you fall asleep faster. However, having alcohol before going to bed will affect the quality of your sleep since it increases the percentage of sleep stage 1, which is the lightest stage of sleep. This means you’ll be more likely to wake up more often during the night.
Alcohol consumption before bedtime can also cause throat muscles to relax, which may worsen snoring and sleep-breathing problems, and increase the need to visit the bathroom during the night. To prevent frequent waking up during the night, make sure you have your glass of alcohol at least three hours before sleeping in order to give your body the time to process it.
5. Sleep Apnea Could Be the Culprit
According to NHS, sleep apnoea happens “when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. The most common type is called obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Sleep apnoea needs to be treated because it can lead to more serious problems.”
People who suffer from this condition sometimes wake up during the night gasping for air, which can be a rather uncomfortable experience.
If left untreated, it can cause more serious issues such as high blood pressure, heart problems, chronic fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating.
In case you are among those people who experience symptoms such as loud snoring, choking, and daytime sleepiness, seek professional help. In the case of sleep apnea, the breathing pattern can be normalized with the use of CPAP machines, which can considerably improve the quality of life.
6. Overactive Thyroid Gland
Did you know that hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, can also affect the quality of sleep? This happens because when the thyroid hormone levels get high, they tend to speed up the metabolism, which results in racing or irregular heartbeat, increased anxiety, and night sweats. These symptoms not only make it hard to fall asleep, but they also affect the quality of sleep and lead to waking up during the night.
So, if you have troubles sleeping through the night and everything seems just fine, maybe it is the thyroid that causes the problem. This can be easily checked through blood tests, so it’s best to consult a doctor who may recommend medications or other treatment to regulate the production of hormones. Managing hyperthyroidism won’t only help you sleep better, but it would offer a better quality of life in general.
7. Eating Too Late or Skipping Meals
Here comes the eating part. As we are all already aware, the food we consume affects our health, and with that, the quality of our sleep. Experts recommend that you do not eat a lot of food before you go to sleep because it might cause a lot of discomfort, and you might wake up in the middle of the night with a burning sensation in your chest, which is mainly caused by too much acid in your stomach. On the other hand, it is recommended that you eat enough food during the day so that your blood sugar levels do not drop when you go to sleep, which might cause you discomfort and wake you up in the middle of the night. By developing healthy eating habits, you will be able to sleep better and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the next day.
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