What Prevents a Good Nights Sleep?
There are several factors that can prevent a person from getting a good night sleep. These factors range from well-known stimulants, such as coffee and soda pop, to certain pain relievers, decongestants, and other culprits.
Caffeine Can Prevent Good Sleep
Caffeine is a major culprit when it comes to sleep interruption. Many people use caffeine to wake up in the morning and stay alert throughout the day by drinking coffee, tea, or other caffeine drinks. Caffeine can trick your body into thinking is not tired. The effects of caffeine can last as long as 8 hours before fully wearing off. Consuming caffeine late in the day can prevent your falling asleep at night.
Nicotine Can Prevent Good Sleep
Nicotine is actually a stimulant that can interfere with falling asleep at night. It can also lead to lighter than normal sleep. With nicotine come other complications during sleep such as waking early due to nicotine withdrawal.
Alcohol Can Prevent Good Sleep
Even though alcohol is a sedative that makes it easier to fall asleep, it prevents deep sleep and REM sleep, allowing only the lighter stages of sleep. People who drink alcohol before going to bed also have a tendency to wake up in the middle of the night when its effects wear off.
Common Medicines Can Prevent Good Sleep
There are various over-the-counter and prescriptions medications that contain ingredients that can keep you awake, such as steroids and decongestants. Pain relievers taken for headaches often contain caffeine. Heart and blood pressure mediations known as “beta blockers” can cause problems falling asleep and increase the number of awakenings during the night. Medicines for asthma or bronchitis can cause problems falling and staying asleep.
Many other factors can interfere with a good night sleep that include psychological disorders such as; schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. Psychological stress also takes its toll on sleep, making it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Individuals whom are stress tend to spend less time in deep sleep and REM sleep.
Next- How to get a Good Night Sleep
References: US Department of Health and Human Services
