Poor sleep quality refers to sleep that is insufficient or disrupted in some way. This can have a significant negative impact on a person's health and daily functioning. There are several key indicators of poor sleep quality:
- Difficulty falling asleep. It takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep most nights. This issue is known as insomnia, and makes it hard to get enough sleep.
- Waking up during the night. Frequently waking up and having a hard time going back to sleep. Waking up to use the bathroom is normal, but waking up and staying awake for long periods indicates poor sleep.
- Waking up too early. Waking up well before your alarm goes off and being unable to go back to sleep. This can leave you exhausted even after 7-8 hours in bed.
- Poor sleep efficiency. The amount of time spent actually sleeping compared to time spent in bed. Adults should get at least 85% sleep efficiency. Those with poor sleep get much less.
- Daytime fatigue. Feeling sleepy, sluggish, and low on energy throughout the day despite getting enough sleep time. This suggests the sleep is not restorative.
- Cognitive issues. Having problems with focus, concentration, memory, decision making, and overall mental performance due to insufficient sleep.
- Mood disturbances. Sleep deprivation often manifests as irritability, anxiety, depression, and general moodiness.
- Headaches in the morning. These are often caused by oxygen deprivation during poor quality sleep marked by breathing issues.
- Frequent illness. Poor sleep leaves the immune system impaired, raising susceptibility to colds, flu and infection.
If you regularly experience any of these symptoms of insufficient or disrupted sleep, it's time to take action! Start by improving your sleep hygiene - stick to a consistent schedule, limit screen time before bed, avoid caffeine in the afternoon, create a relaxing bedtime routine, etc. If that doesn't solve the issue, speak to your doctor or a sleep specialist. They can identify any underlying conditions causing poor sleep, and find solutions like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). With the right changes, you can finally wake up feeling refreshed and energized!
At Balance Hormone Center, we understand the vital role sleep plays in health and wellbeing. Let us help you get to the root of your sleep troubles through comprehensive testing of over 30 different hormones and biomarkers. Our integrative treatments including bioidentical hormone therapies, nutrition plans, and lifestyle changes can drastically improve sleep quality. Contact us today to learn more and start getting the restorative rest your body needs!