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.
