If you are just now joining us, you can read the previous posts here:
- Top 7 Culprits for Why You Can’t Stay Asleep, Part 1
- Top 7 Culprits for Why You Can’t Stay Asleep, Part 2
So far, we’ve covered 5 of the 7 reasons why you might not be sleeping well. You may even have all 5 so far working against you, so even changing just one of the culprits will help. But to “sleep like a baby”, you will want to ensure you remove all culprits so that you can wake up rested and refreshed.
You may have gastrointestinal reflux (GERD) and your only symptom is interrupted sleep.
GERD occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus sometimes causing a burning sensation or chest pain. However, not everyone gets symptoms. Interrupted sleep or chronic cough might be your only symptoms. Before you run off to take an antacid, a doctor should check your esophagus for damage as this can lead to other health issues. Then you need to look into potential diet and lifestyle triggers such as eating too much and eating late, eating spicy or acidic foods, and checking for undiagnosed food allergies and sensitivities.
Your medications and or supplements might be leading to interrupted sleep patterns.
Beta-blockers for high blood pressure or asthma medications are well-known culprits for sleep issues. Opioid drugs often prescribed for pain can lead to sleep apnea. Supplements known to be stimulatory like ginseng, gotu kola and licorice can also put the breaks on getting a good night’s sleep. Vitamins B12 and B6 taken at night can lead to vivid dreams that can wake you up. It is best to take those in the morning.
Thank you for joining me and I hope you’re now able to fall asleep and stay asleep much easier. Should you have any questions, please make an appointment with me here.