5 Common Reasons for Poor Sleep

Most people would agree that one of the most common problems they face in their day to day lives is poor sleep, or as some may call it, bad sleep. It is this poor sleep that ends up being one of the major most ingredients in a vicious cycle that also includes depression, lack of productivity and even forgetfulness. However, solving the problems associated with poor sleep requires a good knowledge of its causes.

1. Sleep apnea is a common cause of restless sleep and especially in people that snore, more so, those who are obese. It comes about as a result of the larger airways narrowing during sleep. This causes breathing problems which ultimately means that less oxygen gets to the brain. The result of this is poor sleep.

 

frustrated employee

 

2. Times are hard. The average person probably needs to work two or more jobs to stay afloat. More working hours translate to the adoption of worrying habits such as late meals which end up affecting the sleep patterns. But aside from that, too many jobs may mean more pressure on the person which may in turn increase stress and depression. Stress may also be caused by the occurrence of negative events in one’s life. All these have been proven to have negative effects on the quality of sleep.

3. How many people really bother about the quality of their mattress? Well, it is a well-known fact that sleeping on a mattress that is of poor quality or old is a common cause of poor sleep. A bad mattress is one that doesn’t provide the right support for the body. Even a pillow that doesn’t support the head well is a sure recipe for bad sleep. It is often advised that mattresses are replaced at least once every seven years.

4. Technology is a major pillar for globalization and modern communication. However, researchers from various institutions all across the world including the University of Helsinki have shown that too much screen time does have a negative impact on the quality of sleep. The research further asserts that children and young adults have been the most affected in terms of screen time and poor sleep. This clearly implies that with the prevalence of laptops, tablets, TV’s and video games in the modern household, there is a lot to worry about in terms of sleep. It is advised that people reduce their screen time and especially right before going to sleep so the brain can relax.

 

kids playing video games

 

5. Then of course there are those who experience restless sleep because of one illness or another. People with conditions such as heart failure, asthma, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, allergies, chronic pain, depression or even anxiety disorders are likely to suffer from poor sleep. Other times, it is the use of certain medications that could cause bad sleep. For example, some antidepressants, Beta blockers, Alpha blockers and even some painkillers have all been known to reduce the quality of sleep.

The good news is that it is completely possible to avoid poor sleep. People can do this by not eating too heavily before sleeping, not smoking before sleeping, reducing the intake of caffeine, reducing screen time, adopting more stable routines and rhythms for the body and keeping the bedroom sleep friendly.

 

 

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