Having trouble sleeping: What to know

Sleeping difficulty refers to difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or waking up too early.

Low quality sleep and a lack of sleep can both negatively affect a person’s health. Chronic sleep loss can even lead to headaches, excessive fatigue, and cognitive impairments.
Sleeping difficulties may occur due to lifestyle factors, poor sleep hygiene, or the presence of an underlying medical condition. Whatever the cause, there are things a person can do to improve the quality or duration of their sleep.

People who have difficulty sleeping may benefit from making certain lifestyle changes and using sleep aids. The sections below list some of these potential treatment options.

Lifestyle changes

Making the following lifestyle changes may help improve a person’s quality of sleep:
–    going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including weekends
–    avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine before bedtime
–    not eating right before going to sleep
–    spending some time doing a relaxing bedtime activity, such as reading or taking a bath
–    minimizing daytime napping as much as possible
–    falling asleep in a dark, quiet, and cool room
–    exercising during the day

Sources: Medical News Today