Reasons for sleep loss

Some reasons for sleep loss are obvious -- crying newborns, espresso nightcaps, and neighbors playing the drums into the wee hours of the morning.

Six less obvious causes of disrupted sleep

Number 1: Pets in Bed

According to a survey by the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, 53% of people who sleep with pets say that their animals disturb their sleep. Animals simply don't have the same sleep and wake cycles that we do. To your cat, 3 a.m. might seem like an excellent time to start pouncing on you. Even more subtle disturbances -- the clanking of the tags on your animal's collar as it moves about -- can wake you.

If you're feeling chronically tired, take a break from the interspecies slumber parties and assess the difference in the morning.

Number 2: Alcohol and Nightcaps

As a cause of sleep loss, this is often a surprise to people. Doesn't drinking make you drowsy?

The body's response to alcohol is more complicated than you might think. Alcohol disrupts the rhythm of sleep. At first, alcohol will act as a sedative, but then a couple of hours later it will wake you up.

To prevent your glass of wine from disrupting your sleep later, stop drinking two to three hours before bed.

Number 3: Undiagnosed GERD

People who have GERD – gastro-esophageal reflux disorder -- often find the nights extremely difficult. Once lying flat on the bed, acid can back into the esophagus, causing heartburn and various types of pain. Although some try to sleep propped up on pillows to counteract this, GERD can still persist.

What you might not know is that GERD doesn't always cause overly dramatic symptoms. Some individuals might only have one persistent symptom: disturbed sleep.

Sleep Wrecker 4: Vitamins and Supplements

Botanical supplements can cause sleep loss as well. Examples include ginseng and guarana are stimulants. Even vitamins aren't free of risk.

Also, vitamins B6 or B12 can give people vivid dreams which can potentially wake people up.

If you're having chronic sleep problems, go to your doctor with a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements that you use. Ask if any of them could be causing your sleep problems.

Sleep Wrecker 5: Pain -- Even Mild Pain

Just about any painful condition can cause disrupted sleep. Headaches, back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and menstrual pain are all common causes. Even if you have only mild chronic pain, it's worth checking it out with a doctor

Sleep Wrecker 6: Being Exhausted -- as Opposed to Sleepy

Let’s take a common scenario: you come home from a long day at work exhausted. You stumble into your bedroom, completely expecting that as soon as you hit the sheets, you'll be down for the count.

But incredibly, that's not what occurs. 45 minutes later, you are still staring up at the ceiling. What happened?

Regardless of how exhausted you feel, you should always take some time to wind down. It could possibly save you lots of tossing and turning.

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Reasons for sleep loss

Six less obvious causes of disrupted sleep