Factors Affecting Sleep Quality

When you start to suffer from any problem related to the quality of sleep, the first thing every expert will ask is what kind of daily ones you met. Poor diet, late monitoring, too long a nap, or using a computer or cell phone in bed can undoubtedly trigger insomnia.

The quality of sleep is affected by several different factors

However, you too need to keep in mind that you are not the only one responsible for your poor sleep quality.

Sometimes, despite everything, the quality of rest is not good enough and, for example, you wake up constantly at night. This way you are tired in the morning, and you may also suffer from muscle aches and headaches. If you recognize yourself from this and the situation has been going on for some time, you should see a doctor to identify the source of the problem.

In this article, we want to discuss certain other factors that can be the cause of poor sleep quality.

1. Your age affects the quality of sleep

As we get older, it is common to experience a slight decrease in sleep quality. You may sleep lighter, wake up more often, and you may have fewer hours of deep sleep. Over time, this intermittent insomnia can become chronic. Sometimes it requires some form of medication that guarantees the required amount of rest and a better quality of life.

The reasons for this are numerous: problems such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, joint pain, or even changes in circadian rhythms.

Medical treatment, a good diet, and moderate regular exercise can help improve the quality of your sleep.

2. Women sleep less

While it is impossible to make generalizations because insomnia can occur when you least expect it, the  American Sleep Foundation has determined that your gender can affect your sleep. 

Here’s why:

• Women tend to “multitask,” that  is, perform multiple activities at the same time, making their minds aware of multiple pressures, stimuli, and responsibilities.
• In addition, any diseases associated with pregnancy or menopause  may be present.

All of this can trigger insomnia.

Another interesting aspect is the fact that men have more problems with sleep apnea or snoring, thus waking up their partner sometimes several times a night. 

All of these factors mean that little by little a woman’s sleep quality can decline. 

3. Culture and place where you live

This fact is more than just curiosity. In reality, it has to do with something that everyone understands: the kind of society you live in can determine the quality of your well-being. 

In certain places, such as Japan, where people are very work-oriented, society values ​​less sleep at night.  In fact, it is even common for them to engage in something known as “inemuri,” which means the skill of being awake while sleeping.

Japanese people may take small naps at work, falling asleep momentarily without going to bed. This includes resting the mind and body for a few minutes under significant work pressure, which describes a large part of the population of this country.

On the other hand, lifestyles depend a lot on the culture to which we belong. 

In Spain, for example, it is common to eat late and go to bed very late, which is in contrast to many northern European countries and most of the United States.

Not all of these factors may depend on the individual, but they also determine your ability to get a good sleep. 

4. Sunlight

Many of us spend much of our day working under artificial lights: in the  office, in front of a computer, in a factory, or in any other environment where most of the tasks are done indoors.

Over time, and quite unnoticed, the  biological cycle is no longer in sync with daylight. If you go to work when the sun has not yet risen or return home late in the evening, this can seriously affect your rest.

This is something that can have a big impact on your life.

5. Social pressure

Many people say they are masters of their own lives and that social pressures are under their control. However, there are certain factors that we cannot always control.

For example, work can set your schedule as well as your own environment: social and economic practices, calendars, obligations… You are part of a “machine” that you can never be completely free of, and this can define your stress load higher or lower. 

Many of these social pressures affect your life in a number of ways, especially on a psychic level. Because of this, you can go through times when you have problems with insomnia.

To be able to deal with these pressures, it is important to maintain a balance between your free time and your working time. 

Caring about your own health and well-being is key to better sleeping and being carefree when your head hits the pillow in the evening.