Why Do We Have Sleepless Nights?
By DB
@dgobucks226 (35615)
March 2, 2020 7:59pm CST
I hate waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble falling back asleep. Do you ever experience this problem? Actually it's quite normal according to Doctors, even 4 to 6 nocturnal awakenings are considered normal. If you want to place the blame on someone look no futher than the caveman days. Seems they would wake up often to check out their surroundings for predators then return to sleep.
Of course, the key part of sleep awakening is you should be able to get back to sleep. If you can't it might be due to one of these sleep inhibitors:
1. Nighttime urination: waking up two to four times a night to pee even when you limit your evening drinking, may signal your balance of water and electrolytes are off. Consuming too much water without enough salt causes your body to release some of that water, thus the bathroom trips.
2. The room temperature: a hot room can make it hard to stay (and fall) asleep. Also, the clothing, sheets and blankets can affect your temperature.
3. Depression symptoms: negative thoughts, excessive worry, lack of energy, and body aches contribute to poor sleep habits. If it becomes severe discussing your mental health with a psychiatrist or primary care doctor might help. Medication or talk therapy might prove a useful treatment.
4. Drinking alcohol before bed: although a sedative too much can disrupt your sleep pattern.
5. Breathing problems: things like colds, seasonal allergies, deviated septum and nasal polyps can rob you of a restful night's sleep. Stay off your back when sleeping. Lying on your side may help.
6. Acid-reflux disease: the discomfort from the heartburn wakes you up.
Maybe you suffer from one of these symptoms and didn't realize it was causing you sleepless nights. Hope this short list of informative and educational tips helps.
If you have any other suggestions to sleep better not mentioned here please add to the list.
Source- Prevention
Photo- yahoo.com
16 people like this
15 responses
@much2say (55655)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Mar 20
@rebelann I have to do the exact opposite . . . I have to close my eyes and not move my body . . . then deep breathe as if I were sleeping (like sleeping without the actual sleep 
). I used to get up and work on the computer, but then I stay up all the way til morning 
.
). I used to get up and work on the computer, but then I stay up all the way til morning .3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46962)
• India
3 Mar 20
Well the major discomforting factors are heavy food, stress, having water just before sleep.
Often when we start sleeping, we feel fine but it gets quite hotter as time progresses and we wake up.
So, yes we can control factors affecting our sleep, but not 100% !
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
You make some good points about temperature, food, water and stress. We must slow down our brain in the evening. You could try a couple of these tips: keep your room temp between 60 and 65°F which is ideal for sleeping according to studies. About 30 minutes before going to sleep, drink a small glass of water with a pinch of unprocessed sea salt to regain salt balance.
Meditation/counting breaths can calm the brain from those stressful thoughts.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46962)
• India
17 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 meditation is a powerful tool indeed!
1 person likes this
@much2say (55655)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Mar 20
I have no problem getting to sleep . . . but I can have trouble getting back to sleep if I wake up from sleeping.
I can't have caffeine after 11:00am tops or I suffer waking up wide awake around 2-3am.
Often my brain just does not shut off . . . one moment of awakeness can trigger the gears to run - and then I can't get back to sleep.
3 people like this
!
@LadyDuck (471421)
• Switzerland
6 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 I do not think that I suffer of insomnia, I think that my body needs less hours of sleep. All you listed does not pertain to my situation and my room temperature is never over 63º F, but never under 60.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Here are some other issues which can cause sleep problems: An overactive or underactive thyroid gland can cause sleep issues. Overactive causes your heart to race, your adrenaline to surge, leading to insomnia. Underactive can lead to sleep apnea where you lose your breath for a period of time during sleep.
Keeping your room temp between 60 and 65°F is ideal for sleeping, according to studies.
If these do not pertain to your situation then I guess you just suffer with insomnia?
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
@LadyDuck I see. Guess it's just your particular sleep pattern then...
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
3 Mar 20
I always have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I catch an hour or so when I can.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178877)
• United States
6 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 My husband is always cold; so we keep the temperature up unfortunately.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Here is a tip you might try: keep your room temp between 60 and 65°F which is ideal for most, according to studies.
Perhaps that could help if your keeping the room to warm?
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
9 Mar 20
@LindaOHio I see. I have the same problem during the winter.
1 person likes this
@kanuck1 (4434)
•
6 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 Thanks for the tip! It might same me a trip.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Making sure you watch your water consumption can help with bathroom trips. Here is a recommended tip if a person is drinking to much water during the day.
About 30 minutes before going to sleep, drink a small glass of water with a pinch of unprocessed sea salt to regain balance.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41445)
• United States
3 Mar 20
I have no idea why I don't sleep well. It's a pain.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Here is a tip I found: keep your room temp between 60 and 65°F which is ideal for sleeping according to studies.
Sometimes health issues are the cause like an overactive or underactive thyroid gland which can cause sleep issues.
You can always count sheep or count breaths, lol.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82789)
• United States
6 Mar 20
I woke up at 3am and couldn't fall back asleep. It was strange because I had nothing on my mind to keep me awake
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Sometimes I wake up before my alarm goes off and can't get to sleep again. Boy could I have used that extra half-hour of shuteye, lol.
Guess our eternal clocks were trying to tell us something???
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Yes, the bathroom is an issue for me too. It seems to be age related. Also to much water consumption can lead to urinating at nighttime hours. Here is a tip recommended if one has that issue. About 30 minutes before going to sleep, drink a small glass of water with a pinch of unprocessed sea salt to regain balance.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102927)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
3 Mar 20
In my case it is having too many soft drinks before I go to bed which causes me to go the bathroom either at 4am or 8am.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102927)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
6 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 Thank you for the advice.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Yes I understand. Caffeine or To much fluid during the course of the day can affect our body's balance. One recommended tip to help stop bathroom tips is about 30 minutes before going to sleep, drink a small glass of water with a pinch of unprocessed sea salt to regain balance.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
3 Mar 20
Oh yes I've been having that a lot lately. Wake up around 4 and struggle to get back to sleep
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
9 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 Aw, sorry you experience similar. That's the odd thing. I can't think of any reason
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
That's so true. When I wake before my alarm it's so hard to just fall back asleep. Any issues causing you to wake so early?
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
I understand completely. Once your up and alert it's hard to return to sleep. Do your cats sleep in the room with you or do they have their own sleeping area?
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
6 Mar 20
@dgobucks226 Both. They are all over the house at night.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35615)
•
6 Mar 20
Insomnia can be a real problem. Maybe your room is to warm? Keep your room temp between 60 and 65°F which is ideal for sleeping, according to studies.
If your room is that temp maybe try breath counting.
@FourWalls (68084)
• United States
3 Mar 20
7. Too much bad music on classic rock stations.
1 person likes this
