Why am I tired but can't sleep? (2023)

Common causes of feeling tired but not being able to sleep include lifestyle factors, mental illness, or physiological conditions.Lifestyle factors include how much caffeine you consume or changes in your circadian rhythm. Mental illnesses can include depression, while physiological illnesses can include sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

This article explains more about the circadian rhythm and other causes of fatigue but insomnia. There will also be sleeping tips.

Circadian rhythms are the mental, physical, and social changes that occur over a 24-hour period as time progresses. This mainly has to do with light-dark changes, for example sleeping at night and staying awake during the day. Most living organisms are influenced by circadian rhythms.

The following factors often cause disruptions or changes in your circadian rhythm:

• genetic changes
• Jet lag
• some shift work
• Light from electronic devices at night, especially blue light

Discover whyEnergy deficiency.

Below are some other reasons why you might be feeling tired.

According to a 2018 review, approx90%of American adults drink caffeinated beverages most days. Caffeine can affect sleep in several ways:

• If you drink caffeine most days, you will experience a period of caffeine withdrawal while you sleep, making you feel more tired the next day.
• Caffeine also decreases the quality of your sleep, even long before you go to sleep, by reducing a chemical in your bloodstream called 6-sulfatoxymelatonin.
• Consuming caffeine too early before bed can disrupt your sleep cycle, disrupting your sleep.circadian rhythm.

Learn more about caffeine withdrawal.

There is a clear and well-known link between poor mental health and sleep.

LikeStudy 2017points out that lack of sleep can be both a cause and a consequence of certain mental illnesses. study in oneRevision 2021found that in certain groups of people, the risk of insufficient sleep is higher if a person suffers from depression orAngst.

Depressioncan doYou feel tired even after a good night's sleep. It could mean that you have trouble falling asleep or that you often wake up at night even though you feel tired.

OthersDepressionssymptomecontain:

• often feel sad or anxious
• Quit activities you used to enjoy
• feel irritated or upset easily
• changes in appetite
• pain in the bodyor abdominal pain
• Headache
• Difficulty remembering things or making decisions
• feel guilty
• feel useless
• thinking about harming or killing yourself

If you think you may be suffering from depression or anxiety, there are many systems that will provide you with comprehensive and confidential support. Talk to your doctor about which treatment option is right for you.

Find out about treatment options for depression and anxiety.

People with sleep apnea find they have itlabored breathingduring bedtime. Sometimes their breathing can become completely blocked, causing them to wake up.

sleep apneaIt can occur in people who are overweight, which can cause upper airway obstruction, or in people with certain facial features, which can make them more prone to obstruction.

According to a 2017 reviewabout 25%of people diagnosed with sleep apnea experience drowsiness during the day, but many others find their sleep “restless” or feel tired.

People with sleep apnea or those sleeping next to them can come forwardsnoring,suffocatingor panting during bedtime.

Learn more about how to aSleep apnea doctor.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), sometimes referred to as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a chronic sensorimotor disorder that worsens over time and can cause severe sleep disturbances leading to waking fatigue.

One15%of the world's population suffers from RLS, according to a 2020 report. It causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, especially during sleep. This urge is uncomfortable but usually not painful, although it can mean the person is very tired.

learn oursSleep tips for rls.

The estimated short-term prevalenceinsomniais 9.5% in the United States, and 20% of these cases progress to chronic insomnia, according to aSummary 2020. This happens when a person finds difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, as well as reduced sleep quality. This leads to health problems during waking hours.

For a diagnosis of chronic insomnia is the conditionhe must:

• have a significant impact on your daily life,
• be noticeable on at least 3 nights a week for at least 3 months
• not the result of other sleep disorders, medical or mental illnesses

Learninsomnia treatment.

In accordance withCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following tips can improve your sleep hygiene:

• Consistency:Make sure you go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time.
• Surroundings:Your bedroom should be as quiet and dark as possible. A cool temperature can be more relaxing, but find what works best for you. Electronic devices such as televisions, computers and smartphones should not be in your bedroom.
• Essen:Don't eat large meals, drink caffeine or alcohol within a few hours of bedtime.
• A practice:Aiming to be physically active during your waking hours to a manageable extent can help you sleep better.

If you think your fatigue could be the result of an underlying medical condition, seek the help of a licensed healthcare professional.

There is no medical distinction between fatigue and sleepiness. There can be a lot of overlap between the two terms.

However, you can describe yourself as tired if you feel consistently tired throughout the day. Drowsiness can affect you more suddenly. For example, you may feel sleepy after meals when your blood sugar levels rise and then fall, causing a change in your alertness.

There is more medical distinction between the terms "fatigue" and "fatigue".

It is typical to feel tired or sleepy from time to time.fatigueit's a different feeling, and it doesn't resolve with regular, good quality sleep or, in some cases, exercise.

signs of fatiguecontain:

• Physical Symptoms:These include strong and constant tiredness, headaches,dizziness, MuscleInsect, appetite changes and frequent nausea.
• mental symptoms:These include changes in reflex and reaction times, differences in decision-making, memory problems, and difficulty concentrating.
• Emotional Symptoms:These include mood swings,irritability, low energy and bad mood.

learn whensee a doctor for tiredness.

Changes in your circadian rhythm can affect important processes in your body,if:

• release of hormones
• eating habits and digestion
• body temperature

Common causes of you feeling tired or drowsy but not falling asleep or being able to sleep well include lifestyle factors, mental illness, and physiological conditions.

For example,Caffeineconsumption, changes in your circadian rhythm,Depression, sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome can make you feel tired but have trouble getting a good night's sleep.

If you think you have a condition that is preventing you from getting a good night's sleep, talk to a doctor.

Other sleep tips include working on sleep hygiene, such as: B. Consistency with bedtime, avoiding electronic devices before bed, and avoiding heavy meals before bed.