Reasons you have difficulty falling asleep

Reasons you have difficulty falling asleep

Symptoms  30.11.2020

You’re on furlough and worried your job won’t survive. At night, your mind races making it difficult to sleep and you wake in the early hours.

It could be stress. Any stressful life event or trauma, such as job loss and death or illness of a loved one may lead to insomnia.

Stop it Change your bedtime routine to a relaxing ritual with reading or listening to music and take up a regular daily activity such as exercise for a good night’s sleep. Don’t nap.

Symptoms

You get home from work late and only manage to eat just before you go to bed. You feel physically uncomfortable when you lie down and find getting sleep difficult.

It could be eating too late. Many people experience heartburn, a backflow of acid and food from the stomach into the oesophagus, which can keep you awake.

Stop it Rearrange your evening. Have your evening meal early, don’t overload your stomach and don’t graze. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Don’t smoke.

Symptoms

You stop breathing periodically through the night and this interrupts your sleep. You’re overweight and have always snored.

It could be Sleep apnoea, which is a risky condition for heart disease and heart attack as during each pause in your breathing your blood oxygen level drops.

Stop it See your doctor who can refer you to a specialist for an assessment of what’s causing the blockage to your breathing. It could be something as simple as being overweight. Many cases improve with weight loss.

— DAILY MIRROR