Ask the Experts- August 2022

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

I am 53 years old, and I have a loss of energy due to my inability to stay asleep at night. I wake up far too early, usually around 5 am and am not able to get back to sleep. This has been going on periodically over the last month. Any suggestions? I appreciate your help.

Jenny

Dear Jenny,

First don’t think that you are alone. Millions of people suffer from insomnia, and it is a frequent cause of doctors’ visits.

There are some things that can affect sleep. If you have events in your life and are thinking about them before you go to sleep, that can keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Also, if you nap during the day, that also may make sleeping at night to become more difficult. There are certain medical conditions that might affect sleep such as arthritis, heart, or lung problem. And even depression can affect sleep. Also, people with sleep apnea where people stop breathing many times during the night, so this may cause someone to feel tired during the day. If you feel you might have sleep apnea, your doctor can help as there are effective treatments for sleep apnea.

It would be advisable to for you to make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor may also refer you to a center for the study of sleep disturbances for both diagnosis and treatment.

You can also implement things on your own. Here are some home suggestions:

• Get enough exercise. But don’t do it too close to bedtime.
• Avoid drinking alcohol in the evening because it can lead to a troubled sleep.
• Avoid caffeine.
• Don’t eat a big meal before going to bed.
• Avoid blue lights on your cell phone or iPad because they prevent sleep.
• Don’t use your computer, pay bills, or anything else that would keep your mind working on overload in your bedroom.
• Count sheep. Yes, it does help.
• Have sex because it is a natural sleep inducer.
• Establish bedtime routine – relax by reading, take a bath, listen to soothing music.