Sleepless nights - We have all been there before. Whether it is trouble unwinding before bed, tossing and turning unable to get comfortable, or waking up with a racing mind, it can have a significant impact on your ability to function during the day. Decreased sleep has been linked with poor health outcomes; 6hrs of sleep or less has been shown to increase your risk of stroke by 15% and coronary heart disease by 48%! Adults need 7 –9hrs of sleep each night, however 1 in 3 say they do not reach that number. Sleep is not straightforward and there are a number of different factors as to why we may not be getting the quality and/or quantity of sleep we need. Most people can recognize a few lifestyle habits that may be contributing, such as increased screen time before bed, caffeine too late into the evening, or waking children.
Here are three key reasons you may not be sleeping well:
1.Your body is not naturally producing enough melatonin
Melatonin is the hormone that signals to your body it is time to sleep. It is triggered by darkness and should start to slowly rise in the evening, peaking around 2-4am. Many people do not make enough natural melatonin to promote a long and deep sleep. This can be due to a number of factors, including blue light stimulation from lights and screens.
2.Your cortisol is too high at night
In an opposite pattern to melatonin, cortisol, one of our stress hormones, should peak a few hours after waking. It should slowly decrease as the days goes on and be low at night. If you are exposed to short or long term stress, your body’s natural production of cortisol can shift and the spike can leave you feeling wired and tired leading to trouble falling asleep, or cause you to wake up int he night.
3.Your blood sugar is not being regulated properly
During the night your liver naturally helps process and release glucose into the blood. If your blood sugar is not regulated well during the day, it can cause a spike at night causing poor sleep. Decreased sleep can also lead to blood sugar dysregulation during the day and type 2 diabetes.
To dive deeper into the science around sleep, why you may not be sleeping well and how to improve your sleep quality and quantity for better health and productivity watch my webinar in the Optimal You Membership Community! We will also discuss different ways to track your sleep and simple habits and techniques you can use to get the sleep you need each night.
Through my unique processes of a full assessment, intentional testing options and individualized and manageable treatment plans,I've helped hundreds of men and women take the next step and make small changes for dramatic shifts in their health and wellness. If you would like to discuss how these factors may be playing into your sleep, book a FREE discovery call here.
Disclaimer:Any information is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in place of professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified health care practitioner with any questions or health concerns you may have.
