Why Am I Still Tired After Sleeping? (2021)

If you still feel tired after sleeping, there may be a few reasons why. Typically, a change in sleep quality emerges from a change in lifestyle. But if your lifestyle hasn't changed, it could indicate that you're suffering from a medical condition.

Has my lifestyle changed?

Understanding recent changes in your life is key to understanding your sleep cycle. Have you recently moved to a new city? Have you had a new child? Have you had to readjust to working remotely? If you said yes to any of these, you have experienced a lifestyle change, which can explain a sudden change in your ability to achieve restful sleep. In certain cases, it's possible you're suffering from a sleep disorder.

Lack of sleep

We all know that poor sleep quality leaves us feeling tired, irritable, and sometimes depressed. If you're not sleeping well, it could be something you consume right before bed, or the daily stresses of life, or something in your environment: a bright blue light, an old mattress, or even your sleeping partner can hurt your quality of sleep.

Eating and drinking habits

Many things you eat and drink on a regular basis has been proven to reduce the quality of your sleep. Alcohol, for example, decreases your ability to enter REM sleep. Sugar stimulates the brain, keeps you awake, and causes nightmares. Even eating fried food at dinner can keep you up at night by agitating your stomach acids. If you consume any of the following items regularly, especially right before bed, it might be time to consider a life change.

• Alcohol
• Sugar (particularly really sugary desserts, like ice cream)
• Fried foods (french fries, onion rings, and fried chicken, to name a few)
• Fruit

Medical conditions

Additionally, there are several medical conditions that can prevent you from getting a good night's rest. Perhaps you've already been diagnosed with one or more of these issues, or maybe the symptoms sound familiar. If any of these sound familiar, contact your physician for help.

• Heart disease. When your body strains to pump blood and impacts your oxygen levels, it can lead you to feel tired. Heart disease is an umbrella term for a host of issues that are resolved in a variety of ways, including medication and proper diet. If you have heart disease and are experiencing chronic fatigue, it's important to discuss this with your doctor to find a treatment that's right for you.‍
• Anemia. Like heart disease, anemia impacts how blood is processed through your body. If you're feeling tired, dizzy, and weak, your doctor can check for anemia through a simple blood test.‍
• Hypothyroidism. This illness, which is more common among women, occurs when your thyroid doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. In addition to fatigue, symptoms often include weight gain and a feeling of being cold. Symptoms of hypothyroidism can be treated through medication prescribed by your doctor.

What can I do to feel well-rested?

There are a few things you can do to improve your quality of sleep, and many of them are easier than you think!

• Reduce screen time on your computer/mobile devices.
• Watch what you eat! Cut out alcohol, caffeine, and sugar (especially before bed).
• Find methods to soothe your stress and anxiety.
• Change your sleep environment. This could include several things, such as buying a pair of blackout curtains, reducing ambient noise, or purchasing a new mattress.

How the right mattress improves your sleep

Whether you were diagnosed with a condition years ago or you only suspect there might be a problem, you've likely tried everything. It might be time to consider your sleep environment. Replacing your old, worn down mattress is a step in the right direction towards cultivating the restful sleep you deserve.

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