Are You Having Trouble Sleeping?

Not being able to sleep can easily be a sign of an underlying health condition. Lack of sleep or insomnia will also lead to disruptions in our circadian rhythm hormones. Many of the hormones that affect your circadian rhythm, also affect your metabolism, blood sugar and all of this is a major risk factor for diabetes and subsequently heart disease. 

A number of sleep issues were associated with type 2 diabetes, including:

• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Getting less than 6 hours f sleep at night
• Frequent snoring
• Sleep apnea
• Rotating Shift work

In general, people who report having difficulty sleeping are more at risk of developing metabolic conditions. A single night without sleep can have some serious implications.

Just one night without improper sleep starts to impair your physical movements and mental focus. This can be equivalent to have a blood alcohol level of .10 percent which is higher than the legal limit in Texas.

Overall, you become more susceptible to “suggested” memories, and start having trouble discerning the true source of your memories.

Tips to improve your sleep:

1. Optimize light exposure during the day, and decrease it significantly at night. 
2. Address mental states that prevent peaceful slumber.
3. Keep the temperature in your bedroom below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Take a hot bath 90 to 120 minutes before bedtime.
5. Avoid watching TV or using electronics in the evening, at least an hour before going to bed.
6. Develop a relaxing pre-sleep routine.
7. Avoid caffeine, and other drugs including nicotine.

Sleep is very important and is a very important part of our life, immune system and endocrine system. If you have any questions about how to improve sleep or need help with getting better sleep then feel free to call our office at (210) 468-1891.

In Health, 

Dr. Jacob Torres, DC