Poor sleep quality - Vitality Clinic

Poor sleep quality refers to sleep that is insufficient or disrupted in some way, preventing you from getting enough deep restorative sleep. Some key signs you may be experiencing poor sleep quality include:

• Difficulty falling asleep: Tossing and turning for longer than 30 minutes before you can drift off.
• Frequent awakenings: Waking up several times throughout the night and having difficulty falling back asleep right away.
• Light, restless sleep: Never feeling like you reach deeper stages of non-REM and REM sleep; feeling lightly asleep all night.
• Waking up early: Waking up much earlier than desired and being unable to fall back asleep.
• Daytime fatigue: Feeling sleepy, tired, sluggish, irritable, or unfocused during the day no matter how long you slept.

Poor sleep quality can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Environmental issues like noise, light, or uncomfortable room temperature.
• Health conditions like sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, acid reflux, anxiety, depression, chronic pain.
• Unhealthy sleep habits like inconsistent bed/wake times, using electronics before bed, or consuming caffeine late in the day.

The effects of poor sleep can be wide-reaching. Not getting enough quality sleep negatively impacts:

• Energy and mood: Makes you feel tired, irritable, and emotionally off during the day.
• Mental performance: Impairs cognition, focus, productivity, and increases risk of accidents.
• Immune function: Increases susceptibility to illness and infection.
• Long term health: Raises risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity when chronic.

If you regularly experience poor sleep quality or any of the signs above, speak to your doctor or a sleep specialist at Vitality Clinic to identify underlying causes. Getting enough deep, restorative sleep is crucial for health, wellbeing, and functioning at your best during the day. Developing healthy sleep habits can help prevent and address issues with sleep quality.