
Sleep is a basic need for survival and good sleep is absolutely vital for your wellbeing. Like eating and breathing, sleep is something we simply can’t live without. As it plays such a big role, it’s imperative that you get enough sleep for proper functioning. Consistent, high-quality sleep is essential for mental as well as physical health. However, certain things may affect your sleep without your knowledge, which can turn into major problems if not addressed.
Factors That Affect Sleep
There are loads of things that impact your sleep. They can be classified into 2 major categories: external factors and internal factors. External factors are those that exist in your environment whereas internal factors consist of health problems you may have that can impact your sleep quality. Below are 6 of the most common things that can mess up your sleep.
1.Sleeping Environment
Has it ever occurred to you that you can’t get the proper sleep because something is wrong with your bedroom? It’s a fact that your sleeping environment can have an enormous impact on your sleep quality. Where you sleep really matters. Your sleeping environment, which is usually your bedroom, has to be quiet and dark in order to get the best possible sleep. People usually prefer complete darkness and silence to get good quality sleep. This can be done by avoiding blue and red lights in the evening before you go to bed. These colors enhance alertness and if you wish you get good sleep, you should avoid them. Make sure to also avoid your phone right before bed.
2.Lighting
Our bodies usually adjust to the lighting around us. This is why you sleep at night and work in the day. The sun is out and shining and your body has adjusted to this schedule. However, our body clock can be disturbed by changes in our environment. If you sleep with lights on, it’s going to trick the body into thinking it’s daytime and you won’t be able to sleep. Therefore, it’s imperative that you switch your bright lights off before going to bed. This will help you maximize the quality of your sleep.
3.Anxiety or Stress
Anxiety and stress can have harmful consequences on sleep. You might think that these things aren’t connected, but that’s not the case. Unfortunately, our body’s defense mechanism is to stay awake in dangerous or stressful situations. This is what happens when you feel anxiety or stress. A person stays awake and is unable to sleep no matter what they try. When this happens, your thoughts start racing, and before you know it, you wake up feeling exhausted. These things need to be taken care of because they can have disastrous consequences on your physical and mental health. You can try weighted blankets, which can help induce sleep and reduce anxiety before bed. The sleep guides at weightedblanketguides.com explain that sometimes medical interventions are necessary to manage stress and anxiety. So if you’re having trouble managing this issue, it may be a good idea to see a doctor. Whatever the treatment, you should take whatever steps you can to work towards getting the best possible sleep.
4.Body Aches or Other Pains
Pain is one of the main culprits that impact your sleep. There are numerous types of pains that affect sleep. Body aches and joint pain are two of the more frequent examples. A headache is the most common pain that keeps people awake at night. If it happens once in a blue moon, then it’s not a big deal, but if it’s a regular occurrence, then it can cause trouble. It can lead to certain sleep disorders such as insomnia and cause a variety of other health problems. It’s difficult to sleep while you’re in pain, and if this is a frequent issue for you, you should definitely see a doctor.
5.Medication
The medication you take also plays a role in the quality of sleep you get. Several chemicals out there can affect your sleep, including diuretics, caffeine, and nicotine.
Aside from these chemicals, certain medicines might keep you up at night. While you can’t just stop taking your medications, if your prescriptions are interfering with your sleep, you should talk to your doctor. They may want to try another medication with different side effects or change the time of day you take your dose.
6.Snoring
Snoring? A cause of poor sleep? It may sound weird at first but it’s actually true. Some snoring is normal but excessive snoring can disturb your sleep and your partner’s. If yours is out of control, see your doctor and get it checked out so that you can get back to sleeping soundly as soon as possible. Consistent, high-quality sleep is essential for mental as well as physical health. However, certain things may affect your sleep without your knowledge, which can turn into major problems if not addressed. It’s worth noting that exploring sleep apnea solutions can significantly mitigate some of these sleep disturbances, providing a clearer path to restful nights.
Getting good quality sleep is important for everyone. There may be some factors hindering it but it’s nothing you can’t fix. Changes in lifestyle and environment can also influence your quality of sleep. To get the best sleep you should stick to a proper sleep schedule, optimize your sleeping environment, and start focusing on your mental and physical health. Although some factors may not be in your control, you can still find ways to ensure you get the best possible sleep.