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Having Trouble Sleep? Here Are 4 Unexpected Things You're Doing To Keep Yourself Awake

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Sleep deprivation can make life difficult. You may be trying everything you can think of  to sleep at night, without much success. In fact, there may be certain things you are doing every day that hurt your chances of getting a good night's sleep. Here are four things you may not realize you're doing to keep yourself awake.

Eating the Wrong Foods

You may not think your diet affects your ability to fall asleep, but the truth is that different foods can have an effect on the quality of your sleep. Foods with a high acid content, like garlic, cayenne powder and tomatoes can cause you to have some acid reflux when you lie horizontally.

To avoid problems from food, simply choose lighter fare in the hours before you go to sleep. That way, your digestive system isn't working overtime, and you can fall asleep more quickly.

Drinking Alcohol Before Bed

If you have been having a nightcap every now and then to put yourself to sleep, that might be one of the reasons you're having such a terrible time of it. While alcohol does have a sedative fact, as your body metabolizes it, you might wake up throughout the night. Therefore, you will wake up feeling not as rested as someone who was able to get long periods of uninterrupted sleep.

Keeping it Too Warm or Cold

You may imagine that you like sleeping in a cool or warm room, but many sleep experts will tell you that 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit is the best temperature for a room when you want to get some sleep.

Not only is it important to keep the room reasonably mild when you are trying to go to sleep, keeping your feet warm can also help you fall asleep faster. Try sleeping in a pair of socks, and you may find that you can sleep again.

Not Seeing Your Doctor

You might not think your doctor can do anything for you if you are unable to sleep. However, if nothing else seems to be working for you, you need to head in to see your doctor. You will likely be sent for a sleep study, so that your doctor can determine whether you have one of a number of sleep disorders. For example, you may have sleep apnea, in which case you will need a CPAP mask; finding out what disorder you have will allow you to finally get good quality sleep.

Make sure to use the tips above to help you get a good night's sleep. As soon as you find something that works for you, you can sleep well and finally function at your best. For more information, talk to the doctors at a clinic like Billings Clinic.


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