Routinely struggling to get an adequate amount of sleep can create a myriad of health issues. It’s important to confront what’s challenging a peaceful slumber to avoid exacerbating any existing conditions and promote higher quality rest. The first step in treating your sleep disruption is discovering its cause. Once you discover the cause, you may find that the best sleeping pills might be an effective treatment for you. Here, we have listed a few of the main reasons for troubled sleeping.

Medical

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is the repetition of pauses in breathing while you sleep. The most common symptom of sleep apnea is snoring. This disrupts any restful sleep and can affect virtually anyone, as people of any age are susceptible to this. See a sleep specialist for recommendations on any adjustments to improve your quality of sleep, such as lying on your side or losing weight.

Insomnia

Constant difficulty falling and staying asleep is an attribute of insomnia. It is one of the main causes for not sleeping typically associated with poor sleep habits, anxiety and depression, or medications. People who suffer from insomnia very rarely feel well-rested. Fortunately, there are various treatments that one can explore to control the disorder, including prescription sleeping pills and behavior therapy.

Depression

Poor sleep can result in the development of depression and vice versa. People who are depressed may encounter symptoms affecting their sleep similar to insomnia, finding it difficult to fall and stay asleep and never feel well-rested. Depression can also lead to oversleeping for those affected, though sleep is of low quality.

Pain

Arthritis

Pain has an inverse relationship with sleep, meaning the less sleep you get, the more likely you are to be sensitive to pain. When we feel fatigued, the brain is unable to stifle pain receptors in the body, causing us to be more reactive to anything uncomfortable.

For people with arthritis, the relationship between sleep and pain can contribute to greater health issues if not tended to. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol is produced at a lower rate at night, which can increase the intensity of pain endured in the P.M.

Emotional Pain

A lack of quality sleep can also increase our susceptibility to negative emotions. When we feel sad or heartbroken, the “happy” chemicals in our brain are being produced at inadequate levels. Insignificant activity of neurotransmitters like dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin results in lower moods and feelings of well-being, making it one of the main causes for not sleeping.

It’s important not to fall victim to the cycle of poor-quality sleep and low moods. Taking a proactive approach to curb the side effects of sadness is imperative following a loss. If in a process of grieving and experiencing disruptions in sleep, try these tips to help sleep following a bereavement.

A quality night’s rest lays the foundation for a productive day. If you are noticing a constant struggle to get valuable sleep or you have extreme daytime fatigue, contact your physician. There are treatments in place to curtail future health risks associated with a lack of sleep.