We spend an average of a third of our lives sleeping and it’s a fundamental biological process which helps the body repair and recover overnight. So why do many of us still feel exhausted when we wake and struggle to function the next day? Contrary to popular belief, simply getting eight hours sleep a night, may not be enough in itself for our bodies to carry out their complex restorative functions, if we’re not getting the quality sleep required during these vital hours.
We spoke to Dr Roger Henderson who said:
‘If you suffer from a bad night’s sleep, you are likely to feel tired the next day as your body hasn’t had an opportunity to repair cells and restore usual brain functions. A bad night’s sleep could be a result of a late night, a restless night or an inability to fall asleep.
‘However, it’s important to remember that it is not only the number of hours you sleep that is important, but the quality of your sleep that will determine how tired you feel during the day. You may think you are getting eight hours sleep; however, you may be having a highly disrupted sleep with frequent waking, which you may not necessarily be aware of. A poor quality sleep will leave you feeling just as tired as a small amount of sleep.’
If you are struggling with sleep during the night, Dr Roger Henderson reveals why you could be getting these five frequent night-time disturbances and what they could be saying about your health…
Frequently waking during the night
Frequent awakenings during the night could be caused by low glycogen levels.
‘To carry out its essential overnight repairs and cell rejuvenation, your body uses energy in the form of glycogen which is stored in the liver. During the night, these glycogen stores get depleted at a rate of 10g per hour, of which 65% is used by the brain.
‘If this energy supply runs out, the liver send stress signals to the brain in the form of the hormone cortisol, alerting it to wake up until sufficient levels are restored. This process can result in broken sleep, which you may not even be aware of, but can often leave you feeling tired and lacking in energy the following day.’
Thirst and frequent loo breaks
‘Thirst and excessive urination could indicate diabetes. When you have diabetes, excess sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood. Your kidneys are forced to work overtime to filter and absorb the excess sugar. If your kidneys can’t keep up, the excess sugar is excreted into your urine, dragging along fluids from your tissues. This triggers more frequent urination, which may leave you dehydrated. As you drink more fluids to quench your thirst, you’ll urinate even more.’
If you are concerned that you may have diabetes, LloydsPharmacy offers free type 2 diabetes screenings in store nationwide, which involves determining your risk of developing type 2 diabetes using a simple finger prick test. The pharmacist will also offer lifestyle advice and recommend ways of reducing your chance of developing type 2 diabetes or help with managing the condition if you are diagnosed.
Snoring and constant fatigue
‘Snoring and always feeling tired could be a sign of sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea, occurs when soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses and obstructs the airway, causing you to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. This causes oxygen levels in the blood to drop and carbon dioxide levels to increase. If this process occurs frequently during the night, sleep becomes fragmented and non-restorative, and you will wake feeling sleepy and fatigued.’
It can be difficult to diagnose if you really do have sleep apnoea at home, however to get a full and thorough diagnosis you may have to visit a sleep clinic and undergo a sleep study overnight.
Night sweats
‘Night sweats could mean hyperthyroidism. Amongst other things, night sweats can be an indication of an over active thyroid. If you regularly wake drenched in sweat, firstly check that your room isn’t too hot but if this continues see a doctor.’
There are other symptoms of an over-active thyroid, including nervousness, mood swings, sensitivity to heat, swelling in your neck, irregular or unusually fast heart rate, twitching or trembling and weight loss. If you have the symptoms of an overactive thyroid and visit your GP, they will take an initial blood test followed by further tests if you are diagnosed.
Restless legs
‘Restless legs may indicate vitamin B or iron deficiency. Restless leg syndrome produces some odd sensations in the limbs. These sensations can be painful or not; they can occur as an ache, itch or tickle. Since vitamin B12 deficiency can damage nerves in the central nervous system, some have attributed these odd sensations to the effects of vitamin B12 deficiency on the nerves. If you experience these, try taking a vitamin B12 and iron supplement to see if your symptoms improve.’
If you have any concerns about your sleeping or the conditions listed, always visit your GP.
