When Sleep Apnea is not the Cause

Written by Fred McConnell

If you are suffering from sleep deprivation, it does not mean you have a chronic sleep disorder like sleep apnea. It may be a temporary health condition. Of course, sleeplessness can also be the result of your lifestyle or bad choices before bedtime. So, before you go to the doctor, thinking you have a serious health concern, you may want to check out the reasons for when sleep apnea is not the cause of your restlessness.

A Stuffy Nose

One of the most common reasons for difficulty in sleeping is a stuffy nose. If you have allergies, a cold, or the flu, you are definitely going to be unable to reach that restorative stage of deep sleep. But, once your nasal passages are not plugged, you will be back to snoozing in style.

In the meantime, sleeping proper up on pillows may help. A generic decongestant that you can buy at the supermarket might help. If it is allergy related, a good antihistamine or a visit to your doctor should take care of the problem, after a few doses.

The Last Cup of Coffee

Do you always seem to have a cup of coffee in your hand? Do you drink coffee from the time you get up in the morning, until that last cup right before you go to bed? Therein might lay your problem of not sleeping well at night.

Caffeine is notorious for keeping people awake. In fact, it is actually considered a drug. You actually might need it, in order to start your day. You might even get headaches, when you do not have enough coffee. But, it could be what keeps you from sleeping well at night.

You might want to change to caffeine free coffee after supper. You may need to limit the amount of caffeine you ingest during the day. However, do not simply replace soda for that great cup of Java. Some sodas actually have more caffeine per serving than coffee. So, you should start checking labels.

The People Next Door

Do you have a noisy neighbor that seems to party every night? People come and go until all hours of the night. They forget that the other individuals on the block have to get up and go to work tomorrow. So, it keeps you awake.

You basically have 4 options. You can go over to your neighbor and see if you can come to some amicable solution to the noise level; you can call law enforcement to come and quiet the party down; you can purchase a great pair of earplugs; or, you can resign yourself to sleep deprivation.

Workout Schedule

Although the opposite should be true, regular exercise will actually give you more energy. Doctors will often prescribe a good workout for people who have low energy levels. But, you need to plan your workout schedule.

You do not want to release all of those endorphins right before you retire for the night. Instead of wearing you out, so you will sleep better, it may work like a caffeine shot in the arm. So, change your exercise time too early in the day or evening, so your body can relax and know when it is time to sleep.

Ouch!

Your sleeplessness may be due to other health problems. For example, if you suffer from arthritis, frequent headaches, or some other type of illness, the pain and discomfort is probably keeping you awake. Even if you have a high tolerance for pain, and it does not seem to be that bad, it can still keep you awake.

If over-the-counter treatments do not work well enough, you may want to consult your physician concerning other options for pain control, so you can sleep at night. He/she should have several ideas to help you sleep deeply.

Princess and the Pea

Have you ever heard the story of the Princess and the Pea? She has so much trouble sleeping. Her subjects try everything. She is even deposited on a stack of mattresses in hopes it will be more comfortable. Yet, she still cannot get to sleep. Then, someone finds a pea under her bottom mattress. Now she sleeps.

If you are having trouble sleeping, it may be your mattress or pillow that is to blame. Maybe it is too soft or too hard. Maybe your bed is lumpy or sags in the middle. You may want to try another bed or shore up your saggy bed with a board.

In short, suffering sleep deprivation does not necessarily mean you have a serious sleep disorder like sleep apnea. It may mean that you need to make some changes in your life, so that you can get the rest you need at night. You may have to give up some old habits or make some new ones. In part 2, you will learn more reasons for lack of sleep, other than a chronic sleep disorder.