Five Surprising Causes of Sleep Loss
 
Ever feel as though you’ve tried everything in the book to get a good night’s sleep? Well, you may be experiencing poor sleep for several surprising reasons; the following are five causes of poor sleep that often go unrecognized.
 
 1. Medications & Supplements
The botanicals guarana and ginseng which are in a myriad of over-the-counter supplements are actually stimulants that could be affecting your ability to fall, and stay, asleep. Also consider any prescription drugs you may be on. Opioid drugs for pain, steroids for asthma and beta-blockers for high blood pressure, can lead to sleep loss. While opioid pain killers may relieve pain quickly and cause you to feel drowsy, they can also lead to sleep apnea which can prevent you from getting a restful night’s sleep.
 
Check with your physician at your next check-up if you’re on the aforementioned medications and are having trouble catching ZZZs.
 

2. Pain
 Obviously severe pain would cause sleep disturbance, but mild pain may also be a source of disturbed sleep. Your sleep can become fragmented, preventing deep, restorative sleep, as your body sends out pain signals, even mild pain signals.
 
If you are plagued by mild, chronic headaches, back pain, or any pain, it is worth getting it checked by your doctor.
 
3. Undiagnosed GERD
 GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disorder) is a severe or chronic form of acid reflux in which stomach acid splashes up from the stomach into the esophagus. This can cause heartburn and pain, which is often most uncomfortable at night. Many people may not even realize they have GERD because their one symptom, surprisingly enough, is disturbed sleep.
 
One way to reduce the severity of symptoms associated with GERD, is to avoiding eating and drinking before bed. If you suspect that GERD could be contributing to your disturbed sleep, consult your physician for a GERD screening.

4. Sleeping In
 For many people who are not experiencing restful sleep, sleeping in on the weekends often feels like the only way to reenergize. However, sleeping in on the weekends may actually be contributing to sleep difficulties because your sleep cycles are not consistent between weekday and weekend.
 
As difficult as it may be to resist the urge to sleep in, try to wake up at the same time every day (reward yourself with a small nap later). This will help establish a natural sleep rhythm.
 
5. Being Exhausted
 At the end of a long day you may want nothing more than to go home, fall into bed and go right to sleep. Yet the opposite happens; you find yourself in bed, awake for hours, perplexed by why your utter exhaustion hasn’t made you immediately drift off to into dreamland? Well, it turns out there is a big difference between being sleepy and being exhausted. Imagine just finishing a 25 mile hike. You would feel exhausted, but even if it were bedtime, your body would still be too revved up to prevent you from falling asleep. Instead of falling right into bed, allow your body to settle down and prepare for sleep before bed time.
 
These five factors often unknowingly contribute to disturbed sleep. But it is also possible that something else could be affecting your ability to engage in restful sleep. Consult with your doctor if you suspect that there could be a more serious underlying cause for your disturbed sleep.