Sleep wreckers, the surprising six

You wake up. Stretch, attempt to roll over and start your day. But for some reason you’re more tired than you were last night.

Though some sleep wreckers are obvious – disruptive neighbors, late-night caffeine, wailing newborns – other causes of sleep loss aren’t so evident. Check out these surprising six.

 

Cell phones.

Whether texting or surfing the web – staring at a bright screen before bed kicks up brain activity and makes it harder to doze off. Plus artificial blue light from electronic gadgets can suppress sleep hormone melatonin. Women's Health Mag

Alcohol.

But doesn’t drinking make you drowsy? 

Contrary to frat party etiquette – the body’s response to alcohol is more complicated than snoozing on the floor after one too many. 

Though one or two glasses of wine can act like a sedative, drinking in excess or too close to bedtime lessens time in REM sleep and leads to waking up throughout the night.

Ingestion.

Late night munchies and twilight dinners aren’t so great for great sleep. 

Come nighttime, the body’s metabolism slows down and your intestines become sluggish when digesting food. To avoid heartburn and stomach aches stay away from spicy, fatty and heavy eats at least four hours before lights out.

Medication.

Medicine cabinets are often the key to troubled sleep mysteries. 

Not only do drugs come with known side-effects – they also have veiled energy-zapping effects.
 

Common pills like steroids for asthma or beta-blockers for high blood pressure can keep you up till dawn. WebMD

 If you’ve started a new med but feel more lethargic than usual, check with your doctor and explore alternatives. 

Pets.

Though pets get spoiled with snuggles in bed – studies suggest animals make sleeping harder to do. WebMD

Dogs and cats just don’t have the same sleeping patterns as we do. While you’re in deep slumber at 4 a.m. – your kitty might deem that prime time for scratching and pouncing on the bed. 

If you’re waking up drained all the time, try having your cat sleep elsewhere in the room. 

Pain.

From headaches to back-aches and menstrual cramps – any form of pain can wreck your rest.

Nighttime discomfort signals sent throughout your body can fragment sleep and cut short needed restorative hours. 

Even if it’s just mild chronic pain, it’s worth letting your physician know.