Is it a problem for you to fall asleep? Do you have trouble staying asleep, and find you are waking up in the middle of the night? Do you wake up not feeling rested? Do you continually feel sleep deprived?
Insomnia is the inability to get enough sleep and long-term insomnia can have some profound effects on your life, such as deterioration of your physical health, issues with concentration and doing well at work, and difficulty maintaining positive relationships with others.
There are some health conditions that could be underlying your sleep difficulties.
The Hormonal Factor
Many women report lying awake for a night or two before their period begins, the time when progesterone levels drop off sharply. Progesterone is the body’s natural relaxation substance.
As women approach mid-life and make the transition from perimenopause to menopause, sleep interruptions can increase. These sleep changes are often presumed to result from hot flashes at night, but that is only part of the picture. Years before a woman reaches menopause and her estrogen production dwindles, her progesterone levels begin declining. This change in the ratio between progesterone and estrogen may be implicated in sleeplessness during perimenopause and menopause. Because Progesterone is a relaxing, calming hormone, it makes sense that women deprived of it may experience sleep disturbances.
Is it the Adrenals?
The adrenals are the “survival glands” that help you to cope with stress. When your body is stressed, your adrenals pump out cortisol to help you manage that stress. When the adrenals become fatigued, they don't function correctly, and you may have too much or too little cortisol in your system. High levels of cortisol can result in an inability to get good sleep.
There is a test where you can see if the adrenals might be the problem.
The Ragland Test
Do you get dizzy when you stand up? Lay down for a few minutes, then take your blood pressure. Then, stand up and take your blood pressure again. This is a test to measure adrenal function.
Normal blood pressure is 120 over 80. When you stand up the systolic (the first number – “120”) should go up 6 to 10 points, normally. The systolic number will go down, or go excessively too high, in the presence of adrenal issues.
Is it the Liver?
The liver, responsible for detoxification and metabolic processes, plays a crucial role in regulating sleep-wake cycles. A healthy liver ensures the efficient production of melatonin, the “sleep hormone,” promoting restful sleep.
Do you fall asleep at night, only to wake up at 1 or 2 am and are unable to fall back to sleep for several hours? This could indicate liver issues. Poor liver health can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep and having a restful night’s sleep.
What to Do?
The health issues mentioned here are just a few of the many health issues that could be affecting your sleep.
Addressing the correct condition to resolve a sleep problem can be done by consulting with a natural health care professional who can design a tailored nutritional program to support your body's overall good health, and which will help you enjoy consistent, restful sleep.