Proper sleep is essential for the healthy functioning of your mind and body. It recharges you and prepares you for the new day. You may sometimes face difficulty sleeping. This could be due to many reasons. Having sleeping difficulties on an occasional basis can be understandable but if you struggle to sleep almost every day then you need to get to the root of the problem.
The reason why you should be concerned about it is, sleep deprivation is directly linked to chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, hypertension, dementia, kidney disorders, stroke, and depression. These illnesses tend to degrade the quality of life. So, if you are one of those individuals that struggle to fall asleep, then you need to ask yourself these 6 questions that are listed below:
Am I stressing over something?
Even the minutest thing can peak your stress level. You might get overwhelmed too soon. Stress could be related to your work, studies, personal life, or social life. A little bit of stress is still okay, as it compels you to push your limits and become better, but if it happens persistently then it needs to be managed. One should be able to distinguish the stress levels, and if it seems deteriorating then there is a need to ponder upon coping with it.
Long-Term Stress
Long-term stress can lead to depression which can cause health breakdown. It might impact you physically, emotionally, and mentally. Which disturbs your brain function and prevents you from resting. It constantly gets you thinking and staying in survival mode, owing to which you remain up all night. However, there are a great many ways by which you can manage your stress very well. Things like meditation, learning a new skill, doing something creative work, reading, exercises, and many such activities can help you to bring down your stress levels. Engaging yourself in some fun activities will allow you to destress and improve the quality of your sleep.
Did I take a nap in the daytime?
Dozing off during the daytime for a few minutes can help you to get a quick recharge and boost of energy. But if you are having daily naps and find it difficult to sleep at night then you need to cut down your daytime nap duration. Or it is even better to skip the daytime nap and save the tiredness and sleepiness for the night, you will experience better sleep quality.
For habitual daytime slumberers, these naps can be so refreshing that can increase your performance and improve your productivity. But stretching it for too long can affect your sleep cycle and keep you awake at night for longer. Therefore, you must shorten your nap time.
Did I eat something hard to digest for dinner?
Foods have different qualities, some of them provide you with instant energy by getting quickly digested while others take longer to digest. The chemicals present in the food can affect the process of digestion and impact your circadian rhythm which is the sleep cycle. One must follow a fixed schedule for dinner and stick to it. Also, there must be a significant gap between dinner time and sleep time. And if you keep changing the time of dinner then your body would not be able to keep up with it.
When you have a meal just before sleeping, it can result in acid reflux, because as you lay, the acids released by your stomach for digesting the food can rise to your esophagus and cause heartburn. Therefore, you must follow a consistent mealtime and consume clean, less spicey, low-fat, light food for dinner.
Am I stretching the screen time?
According to some studies, devices such as mobile phones, laptops, computers, etc. produce blue light which stimulates a particular part of your brain. That is responsible for releasing melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep hormone which is put you to sleep. It is an essential hormone without which one cannot fall asleep. However, the blue light emitted by the devices suppresses melatonin production and release. Which affects your sleep. You can avoid this from happening by putting all the devices away from your bed an hour before you go to bed.
Is there any underlying health condition affecting my sleep?
Sometimes an illness could be a cause of your sleeping troubles. Chronic illnesses like arthritis, back pain, diabetes, and others can give rise to pain, inflammation, and discomfort. Which affects your sleep cycle. It is necessary to get yourself checked. Your doctor will perform some screening tests to find if there is any underlying health issue that is causing all trouble. Sleep difficulties can be well-managed by treating the illnesses.
Comorbidities not only affect your sleep cycle, but also leads to sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, low levels of testosterone, and fertility issues. Individuals with erectile dysfunction can make use of Kamagra medication. Which is a powerful remedy for erection problems. These medications are composed of Sildenafil, which is a potent component for improving erectile difficulties.
Am I experiencing a sleep disorder?
If you have been facing sleep deprivation lately, then you can fix this problem by following the above techniques. However, if this has been an issue for a significant time now, then you might be probably suffering from some sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, and restless leg syndrome (RLS) are some types of sleep disorders you might be experiencing. To identify the exact cause and get it treated. You need to consult a sleep specialist. They will help you with the identification by asking you several questions about symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, etc., and based on the analysis. They will suggest some appropriate treatment.
Last word
Even though sleeping difficulty might seem a big deal at first but it can get worsened with time. One needs to acknowledge the fact that sleep is utterly important. As it is during this time your body carries out necessary functions like detoxification, healing, cell growth and development, and many others. Which is the reason why you feel completely charged and ready for the next day. Anything that affects your sleep quality must be avoided, after all, sleep is precious.
