Why Are You Struggling To Sleep Through The Night?
Whilst most of us recognise the importance of getting a perfect 8 hours of sleep, the ability to consistently achieve it is sometimes tantalisingly elusive with many of us struggling to sleep through the night.
There are a number of physical conditions that can prevent us from achieving a good night’s sleep, and once awoken we all know how difficult it can be to get to sleep again.
These are some of the most common situations preventing us from getting the sleep we so desperately wish for.
1. Waking-up, but you're not sure why
A simple and unfortunate fact of life is that the older we get, the lighter we sleep. It becomes easier to be disturbed by external factors such as noises and fluctuations in temperature.
Having the wrong temperature in your bedroom can throw off your natural body temperature, which will result in a disturbed night’s sleep. The ideal room temperature for your bedroom should be around 16-18°C.
Having a mattress that's too hot can also throw your body's thermostat in the wrong direction, so if you're hot sleeper this is something you should bear in mind when choosing a mattress. Make sure, also, that you have nice bedding materials that are made from natural fibres.
Tip:Dormeo's Octaspring mattresses have been proven 8x more breathable than traditional memory foam, making them a particular favourite for hot sleepers.
2. Go away nasty nightmares!
Nightmares aren't just for the kids. The dreams of monsters may not trouble us anymore, but bad or unsettling dreams can come to us all. They can be the result of a wide range of factors, but the principle causes are generally related to stress arising from various sources, including concerns about work, money and relationships.
3. "Alarm Clock" Headaches
Mainly affecting the over-50's, occur at the same time every night and are generally caused by a lack of water during the day. Dehydrated tissue surrounding the brain will swell during the night, placing pressure on the brain and thus creating an ‘alarm-clock’ headache.
TIP: The best way to keep "alarm clock headaches" at bay is to make sure you drink plenty of fluids during the day. Remember, avoid caffeine after 4pm and don't drink too much water before bedtime, otherwise you'll be waking up for a different (natural) reason!
4. Leg Cramps
Many of us suffer from cramps during the night, specifically in the calves, thigh and feet. Cramps occur due to a lack of circulation, a particular issue when lying in bed. Lying down means the leg is at the same level as the heart, so it can prove difficult for blood to circulate to our lower bodies, which is when cramps occur.
TIP: Taking a warm bath and stretching before bed are good preventative measures to reduce the risk of cramps occurring.
5. Back Pain
This is a very common ailment, with almost 50% of the UK population suffering from some form of back pain. The first port of call in combating this is to carry out an inventory on your sleeping environment, because there's a high possibility that you're putting undue strain on your body as you sleep.
If your mattress is old and starting to lose its shape (much like the rest of us!), this can be a major contributor to back pain. On top of this, while it's lovely to have lots of pillows around you in bed, especially for bed-time reading or TV watching, sleeping with too many around your head and neck can lead to neck pain and increased pressure and strain on your back.
TIP:Your mattress is absolutely essential, though. Support is vital. If your back isn't getting support in the right areas then it's going to put strain on your body, with the inevitable result being broken sleep, and the feeling that you've been wrestling Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks combined. A good quality mattress that works for you body as you sleep is an essential investment in countering back pain-related wake-up calls and setting you up for the day ahead.
If you need help trying to find the perfect mattress for you, why not call one of our sleep experts to discuss the best options for your individual requirements? They can be called any time, FREE, on 0800 625 0134. Or simply visit Dormeo.co.uk.Explore the hub
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