Sleep disorder: Causes & tips for restful sleep
Many people in Austria suffer from insomnia, a chronic sleep disorder. There are numerous reasons for problems falling asleep and staying asleep, such as stress, medication, a hereditary predisposition, but also motor restlessness, such as restless legs syndrome. A lack of sleep not only affects your daily well-being, but can also have serious health consequences. Find out how you can get a restful night's sleep with the help of simple tricks below.
What is insomnia?
In Austria, around eight per cent of the population suffer from chronic insomnia and a further 8.9 per cent show symptoms of pathological sleep problems. Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which those affected have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep for at least a month.
The constant lack of sleep not only impairs rest at night, but also social and professional performance. In addition, the thoughts of people with chronic sleep problems constantly revolve around the negative consequences of sleep deprivation, both at night and during the day.
Causes of sleep disorders
There are various factors that can affect sleep behaviour. In addition to stress or shift work, genetic predispositions such as diabetes, asthma or thyroid dysfunction can also lead to sleep difficulties. Not only physical functions play a role in good sleep, but also our mental well-being.
For example, depression or mental stress can contribute to sleep problems. Medication and stimulants can also disrupt night-time rest. In addition, our own lifestyle can reduce the quality of our sleep. For instance, regular alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco or too little exercise can make it difficult to fall asleep or sleep through the night.
Good to know: Restless legs syndrome
People who find it difficult to keep their feet still in the evening and find peace and quiet may suffer from restless legs syndrome. In most cases, this neurological disorder manifests itself as a strong urge to move the legs, including feelings of pressure or tension in the calves. Many sufferers therefore find it difficult to fall asleep or sleep through the night.
Sleep aids against insomnia
Around 7 to 8 hours a night is ideal for healthy sleep. APO24 shows you some tips to improve the quality of your sleep:
- Switch off screens: Reduce the use of screens, especially in the evening, to avoid exposure to artificial light.
- Avoid stimulants: Not drinking alcohol or caffeine before bed can help you fall asleep.
- Light evening meals: Heavy meals consumed late at night can put a strain on digestion.
- Regular exercise: Regular exercise is beneficial, but avoid too intense workouts before bedtime.
- Avoid naps: Try to avoid midday naps so as not to disrupt your natural sleep rhythm.
- Consistent sleep cycle: Get up and go to bed at the same time every day.
- Optimal sleeping environment: A dark, quiet and cool sleeping environment, comfortable mattresses and pillows are helpful.
Why is sleep so important?
The importance of sleep is often underestimated. A good night's rest is both crucial for daily performance and very important for health. Because although it may seem as if not much happens when we sleep, a lot actually goes on in the body. During sleep, cells and muscles regenerate, information is processed and the brain is cleansed of toxic substances.
In order to diagnose insomnia, a physical examination, sleep diaries or sleep time tracking are helpful in addition to a medical consultation. Suffering from a constant lack of sleep can have serious psychological and physical health consequences. If you have persistent sleep problems, contact your doctor or pharmacist directly. You can find the opening hours and on-call services of Austrian pharmacies on APO24.
Your APO24 team