It’s time to stop losing sleep over poor sleep.
Sleep is vital for physical and mental well-being — it’s crucial for brain function, athletic performance and recovery, mood regulation and immune system support. We all know that snoozing for less than seven hours a night can leave us cranky and anxious — and looking like we’ve been through the wringer.
“I know how frustrating it can be to wake up feeling exhausted,” MaryBeth Ayer, a Massachusetts-based holistic practitioner, recently said on TikTok.
Ayer suggests that high levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, may be to blame. Elevated cortisol can lead to weight gain, high blood pressure, muscle loss, mood swings, an increased risk of diabetes and sleep troubles.
Ayer says if you have at least three of the following 10 problematic bedtime behaviors, you should see a doctor to get your hormones checked.
10 poor sleep habits
- Waking up most nights between 3 and 4 a.m.
- Experiencing intense, stressful dreams
- Excessively sweating
- Having racing thoughts before bed
- Noticing shoulder, neck or wrist pain when you wake up
- Feeling tired all day but wide awake when it’s time for bed
- Tossing and turning
- Grinding teeth at night
- Getting overheated in bed
- Being exhausted when you wake up
What to do if you sleep poorly
Regular exercise, less caffeine, stress management and a healthy diet can help ease cortisol levels.
Ayer suggests having Greek yogurt, peanut butter and a banana an hour before hitting the hay. A small, protein-rich snack can help even out blood sugar levels to promote better sleep.
If you suspect that you have Cushing’s syndrome, a rare excess cortisol disorder that is characterized by weight gain, a round face and weak muscles, you should immediately see a doctor.
“Life & Beth” star Amy Schumer, 43, revealed earlier this year that she has Cushing’s syndrome.
She blamed her hormonal imbalance on “getting steroid injections in high doses.” It’s unclear why she was taking steroids.
