Surprising Reasons Why We Suffer from Insomnia
As we grow older, we noticed that we have a hard time sleeping. Sleep seem to elude us especially on moments when we badly want to sleep. Even counting sheep is no longer effective. If you are one of the people who have trouble sleeping or you feel tired and dissatisfied after a night’s sleep then you might be suffering from insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder wherein a person experiences
difficulty falling asleep. If not treated properly, insomnia can cause more
serious health problems or in rare cases, even death.
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| Lifestyle.one |
“Insomnia affects
your daily performance at work and at home. Lack of sleep also weakens the
immune system, thus making you more prone to viruses. If not addressed
immediately, it can also increase your risk of having heart diseases and heart
failure. That’s why it’s important to address and identify possible causes of
insomnia,” says MediCard president Dr. Nicky Montoya.
Dr. Montoya reveals
some surprising culprits behind your insomnia:
Stress. May it be work or personal concerns, stress
keeps you from scoring some Zzzs. In addition to stress, overthinking can also
be a culprit for your lack of sleep. To ease anxiety during bedtime, try to meditate
and exercise during the day. If you wake up in the middle of the night and
can’t fall back to sleep, get out of bed and do something relaxing like reading
a book or listening to music until you feel sleepy again.
Nighttime distractions. Noise, complete silence,
light, temperature and your electronic devices are just some of the reasons why
you can’t sleep. Make sure the temperature in your room is conducive to
sleeping and opt for a night light instead of a bright bulb. Avoid using your
gadgets during bedtime, as they emit a type of blue light which can make you
more alert. If you’re a person who has trouble sleeping in total silence, try listening
to relaxing music or leave the TV or fan on.
Irregular sleep schedule. Do you sleep and wake
up at different times every day? Or maybe you sleep in on weekends, believing
that it will make up for lost sleep on weekdays? Your inconsistent sleep is
probably confusing your body clock, thus you may have trouble falling asleep. “To
combat insomnia, make sure you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day,”
Dr. Montoya advises.
Lack of exercise. Jogging, cycling, walking and dancing are
beneficial stressors to the body. However, do not exercise prior to bed, as this
won’t give your body enough time to cool down, making it difficult to sleep.
Work out three to six hours before bedtime to get the maximum sleep benefits.
Eating midnight snacks. Late night snacking
or eating a heavy meal before you sleep can cause insomnia. “You should not eat
within two to three hours of your bedtime. Metabolism is slower at night and
sleeping with a full stomach can cause discomfort and make it difficult to
sleep soundly,” remarks Dr. Montoya. He also recommends drinking less water at
night, so you don’t have to wake up and go in the bathroom in the middle of the
night.
Learn how to manage
and overcome insomnia. MediCard has numerous free-standing clinics located in
key cities nationwide that offer consultations.
Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com
for more information.
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