Call us if you need more information on the causes of sleep disturbance below. We can put you in touch with several expert bodies on sleep disorders.

CAUSES OF DISTURBED SLEEP - You sleep in cycles of 80-110 minutes. If you are woken during this cycle, you will feel groggy and tired, and your body will have to reset itself to start the cycle again. If you wake naturally at the end of a cycle, you should feel refreshed and ready to face the day.

1. LIGHT: BUY LOW WATTAGE LIGHT BULBS FOR YOUR BEDROOM AND BATHROOM. EYES ARE SENSITIVE TO LIGHT IN THE NIGHT. TURNING ON A LAMP RESETS YOUR SLEEP CYCLE. DO NOT LEAVE A LIGHT ON WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP. BUY HEAVIER CURTAINS OR THICK LINING. IN SUMMER MONTHS SUNRISE INTERRUPTS YOUR SLEEP AND IS A SURPRISINGLY COMMON CAUSE OF SLEEP DISTURBANCE. CONSIDER AN EYEMASK IF YOU WAKE EASILY FROM LIGHT
   
   
2. SOUND: INSTALL DOUBLE GLAZING, CARPETING AND / OR CURTAINS NOISES LIKE TRAFFIC OR NOISY NEIGHBOURS ALERT THE BRAIN DURING SLEEP. LEAVE A RADIO ON BUT TUNED IN TO ‘STATIC’ OR LEAVE AN ELECTRIC FAN ON IN YOUR ROOM. MASK NOISE WITH WHITE NOISE RATHER THAN MUSIC, WHICH ALERTS THE BRAIN (THE SPOKEN WORD PARTICULARLY SO). CONSIDER EARPLUGS IF THE NOISE IS PARTICULARLY BAD
   
   
3. MATTRESS SIZE AND QUALITY:
   
   WIDTH. A BIG REASON FOR SLEEP DISRUPTION ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WITH PARTNERS. THE AVERAGE PERSON TURNS OVER 80 TIMES IN A NIGHT SO UNSURPRISINGLY THE MOVEMENTS OF YOUR PARTNER DISRUPT YOUR SLEEP. IN THE UK, THE AVERAGE BED GIVES A COUPLE JUST 2’3” OF SPACE TO SLEEP IN: LESS THAN A BABY IN ITS COT. A WIDER BED SOLVES THESE PROBLEMS.
   
   LENGTH. BEDS THAT ARE TOO SHORT ALSO DISRUPT SLEEP, WITH DIAGONAL SLEEPING, COLD FEET AND BACK PROBLEMS THE USUAL CAUSES.
   
   QUALITY. AN OLD OR CHEAP MATTRESS CAUSES ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH SLEEP. DIFFICULTIES RANGE FROM BACK PROBLEMS TO ALLERGIES TO PARTNERS ENDING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A SAGGING MATTRESS FIGHTING FOR SPACE. ON THE FLIP SIDE AN OVERLY HARD MATTRESS CAN CAUSE BACK PROBLEMS TOO –BEWARE SOME MANUFACTURERS SELLING “ORTHOPAEDIC” MATTRESSES THAT ARE IN REALITY ULTRA-HARD.
   
   
4. TEMPERATURE: KEEP ROOM TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE 18-24C BODY TEMPERATURE FALLS DURING THE NIGHT, SO IF YOU FALL ASLEEP COLD, YOU MAY WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FREEZING! ALTERNATIVELY, IF THE ROOM IS TOO HOT YOUR BODY WILL BE CONCENTRATING ON KEEPING COOL (SWEATING AND TURNING) RATHER THAN SLEEPING.
   
   
5. SNORING: THE MOST COMMON REASONS FOR THIS ARE; A REACTION TO ALLERGIES - TRY DIFFERENT BEDDING OR PILLOWS, WASH THEM AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND KEEP THE ROOM DUST AND PET-FREE. LOOK AT OUR ALLERGEN-REDUCING MATTRESSES PILLOWS AND SHEETS OR CALL US FOR MORE INFORMATION. A BAD SLEEPING POSITION –TRY A BIGGER, BETTER FITTING MATTRESS AND SUPPORTIVE PILLOWS. A REACTION TO INFECTION OR ALCOHOL –A COLD OR A FEW DRINKS CHANGE THE WAY YOU BREATHE. ALCOHOL, CAFFEINE, AND NICOTINE CAN ALSO AFFECT THE QUALITY OF SLEEP YOU GET DIRECTLY. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR.
   
   
6. OTHER HEALTH ISSUES: COMMON CAUSES INCLUDE SLEEP APNEA, WHERE THE SUFFERER HAS DIFFICULTY BREATHING, STRESS, OR CHRONIC BACK PROBLEMS. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR.