Is your partner
struggling for quality sleep? Well, sleep deprivation is quite common as you
age. A lot of it has got to do with the hustle and bustle of life. Of course,
you have responsibilities ranging from budgeting finances, staying on top of
work duties, and raising a family. Quite often, poor sleep quality will be down
to fatigue and general exhaustion. However, poor sleep quality should not be
something to take lightly. It can result in numerous unwanted effects and
chronic diseases. In fact, there are several factors and conditions that can disrupt healthy sleep
patterns
Let us look at some of the common reasons:
1. Stress and Anxiety
As an adult, there are
endless things to take care of, from financial and family well-being to work
pressure. These can cause overwhelm and anxiety, making it hard to fall asleep
at night. The constant worry that keeps you up at night affects your sleep
quality and could cause issues like high blood [pressure, among others.
2. Lack of physical activity
Exercise is beneficial
to the body in more ways than one. It is easier to fall asleep when you've had
a few minutes of exercise in your day. Regular exercise encourages the body to
release endorphins which help improve your mood and reduce stress, making it
possible to have a healthy night's rest. A lack of physical activity could be
the culprit causing sleep deprivation. Slot a few minutes from your busy
schedule to do some aerobic-type exercises that will encourage oxygen flow and
healthier sleep.
3. Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is
characterized by repeated shortness of breath when asleep. The condition occurs
when there is low oxygen in the blood and is more prevalent in men with obesity
or experiencing excessive weight gain. Sleep apnea is a significant issue that
negatively impacts energy levels and could be catastrophic if you do not treat
it promptly.
Can Testosterone affect sleep quality?
Hormones do also affect
the quality of your sleep. Testosterone is one such hormone with multiple
functions in the body. However, its levels tend to dip with age, causing
several symptoms. Low testosterone can affect healthy sleep patterns causing
insomnia. Testosterone is a hormone mainly associated with the reproductive
system. However, its impact goes far beyond the reproduction functions.
Testosterone also affects mood, bone strength, energy levels, and sleep cycle.
Levels higher or lower than acceptable tend to cause problems. But in most
cases, low testosterone is usually the thing to worry about most.
Testosterone is
instrumental in maintaining and organizing the body's internal clock, known as
the circadian rhythm. That explains why most adolescents are awake later during
puberty when testosterone levels peak.
Testosterone levels and
sleep go hand in hand. Its levels rise when you rise in the morning and dip
throughout the day. When you sleep, your body replenishes testosterone levels
causing them to increase gradually and reach a maximum during the REM sleep
cycle. However, when your body does not produce sufficient testosterone levels,
you will experience low energy levels, insomnia, and disruption in your sleep
patterns.
What
causes low testosterone?
Low T affects sleep
quality, among other things in the body. But what causes testosterone levels to
go below the normal ranges?
● Tumors in the pituitary glands
● Aging
● Alcohol abuse
● Chronic diseases like diabetes
● Obesity
● Stress
● Obstructive sleep apnea, etc.
Can
you increase testosterone levels?
Low T can have many
negative impacts. The good news is that there are ways to increase testosterone
levels. Tweaking your lifestyle and removing any issues that cause your
testosterone levels to drop can counter low T. Here are the options at your
disposal if you have trouble sleeping because of the low testosterone levels in
your body:
Counter
Low T by eliminating things that cause a dip in testosterone
One viable way to fight
low testosterone is by eliminating things that contribute to low levels. They
include:
● Alcohol abuse
● Drug use
● Poor sleep hygiene
● Weight gain and obesity
● Metabolic syndromes like diabetes
Now, increasing
testosterone levels using testosterone replacement therapy is a potent way to
deal with low T that affects your ability to have a high-quality sleep. You can
seek testosterone replacement therapy
from a certified medical practitioner. You can have it administered in either
of the forms below:
● Injections
● Oral pills
● Topical creams and gels
● Intranasal gel, etc.
There are other natural remedies for increasing testosterone levels,
among them being:
● Eating healthily, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight.
● Reducing stress
● Have good sleeping habits
● Stop smoking
Wrapping up
Sleep is as essential
to overall well-being as exercise and nutrition. However, several factors
hinder quality sleep, like low testosterone. Fortunately, there are effective
remedies but it all boils down to finding the underlying issue. Remember, you
need a good night's rest for your overall health and quality of life.
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