Do you find yourself yawning throughout the day? Struggling to stay awake, no matter what the activity? Reaching for a cup of Joe at 3 PM? Obviously, you’re not getting enough sleep.
But wait, you say, I went to bed at a decent time! I fell asleep nine hours before I had to get up. Even if this is the case for you, there are some things that can interrupt your sleep or make it so you don’t get enough. Here are the top sleep interruptions:
- Alcohol
Although this depressant makes you drowsy, it does not provide a restful night’s sleep. When you’re looking for quality sleep after a few drinks, keep in mind that you should stick to only two or three drinks and stop drinking around three hours before bedtime!
- Heartburn
Is heartburn leaving a bad taste in your mouth? Heartburn (acid reflux or GERD) is stomach acids that travel into your esophagus which cause pain and discomfort. If you have this condition, you know it worsens as you lay flat. Fortunately, heartburn or GERD can often be treated by over-the-counter antacids, but certainly see your doctor if the problem continues as it can lead to more serious health conditions.
- Pets
It’s time to choose; is it you or your pet that deserves a better night’s sleep? A recent survey revealed that over 50 percent of Americans that sleep with their pets suffer from some form of sleep disruption caused by their pet. The best cure for these disruptions is to train your pet to sleep completely outside of your bedroom so you are not awakened by your pet’s unpredictable sleep patterns.
- Untreated Sleep Apnea
Finally, if you don’t drink (much), don’t suffer from GERD and don’t have pets in your bed, but still get poor sleep, you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea typically includes loud snoring and then moments of silence which is actually periods when you’ve stopped breathing. When you stop breathing, your body usually responds by waking you up. Sleep apnea is easily treated with CPAP therapy, but if left untreated, can lead to many serious health conditions.
Many of those things on the list can be taken care of by lifestyle changes or visits to the doctor. If number 4 is a problem for you, CPAP Central can help! We carry a large variety of sleep apnea therapy products and can make sure that you get a complete night’s rest.