It is common to wake up tired sometimes, but often experiencing the same pattern could be signalling some underlying health issues. Check out the reason behind waking up fatigued even after seven to eight hours of sleep.
Waking up tired occasionally is not a cause for concern, but experts believe that often waking up tired after a restful night could indicate certain health problems. A 2015 study found that some of the contributing factors to waking up tired from seven to eight hours of sleep are due to a heightened state of sleep inertia, a circadian process that modulates memory, mood, reaction time and alertness upon waking.
Causes Of Waking Up Tired
If you are dealing with poor sleep cycle, or is not able to get a soundless sleep, this is what is exactly happening inside your body:
Sleep Inertia
It is a normal physiological response that occurs when a person wakes up suddenly from a deep sleep, resulting in temporary cognitive and sensory-motor impairments. It occurs when a person wakes suddenly from a deep sleep. During this time, a person may experience drowsiness or disorientation, difficulty concentrating, poor decision-making, and difficulty performing fine motor tasks. According to experts, an individual may take at least 15-30 minutes for alertness to reach pre-sleep levels.
Poor Sleep Hygiene
Another big factor contributing to waking up tired is having poor sleep hygiene, such as looking at phone or computer screens before going to bed, having a sleeping environment that is too hot, too bright, or too loud, or having an uncomfortable mattress or pillow. This practice can lead to poor quality sleep, affecting your eight-hour sleep cycle, resulting in waking up tired.
Sleep Disorders
Still waking up tired even after adjusting your lifestyle and sleep practices? This could indicate an underlying sleep disorder such as sleep apnea and insomnia. Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Some of the signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, gasping for air while sleeping, waking with a dry mouth, experiencing headaches in the morning, and feeling tired after a lengthy sleep. Insomnia, on the other hand, is a condition where a person experiences difficulty falling or staying asleep, which is a contributing factor to waking up tired.
Stress And Anxiety
Apart from sleep apnea, even stress and anxiety can trigger poor sleep cycle. Yes, you read that right! When you are mentally stuck or having issues in settling down your mind and body, you end up not receiving sound sleep.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Another big factor that contributes to poor sleep cycle is nutrient deficiency. When your body is lacking essential nutrient such as iron, vitamin D, magnesium, or B12, you may end up feeling exhausted and tired – even after sleeping well at night.
Symptoms Of Waking Up Tired
Alongside tiredness, an individual who wakes up feeling tired all the time may show underlying symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, headaches, low energy, daytime sleepiness, brain fog, and evidently reduced performance in daily tasks.
Treatments For Waking Up Tired
Are you tired of waking up feeling exhausted even after sleeping for 7-8 hours? Here’s what you can do to get your body a soundless sleep:
- Treatments for waking up tired depend on the underlying cause. However, good sleep hygiene is a potential treatment option and remedy for waking up tired. Ensure to limit daytime naps, take a warm bath, drink an herbal tea, or read. Sleeping on a comfortable mattress and pillow is important, along with creating a mood for a good night’s sleep by dimming the light and keeping the room cool.
- Regularly perform light stretches for better sleep. Avoid strenuous workouts as they could counteract and make it take longer to fall asleep.
- A person with underlying medical problems causing a sleep disorder must consult with a doctor at the earliest.
Regardless of the cause, it is common to feel tired even after a restful night. Hence, to start your day on a positive note, ensure you get up at the same time each day, wash your face, turn on the bright lights in the morning, take a short walk and drink water.
Can Too Much Sleep Make Me Feel More Tired?
Yes, sleeping too much can disrupt your sleep cycle and make you feel tired.
Why Do I Feel Tired Even After 8 Hours Of Sleep?
Some contributing factors to waking up tired include poor quality sleep, stress or anxiety, dehydration or poor diet and even certain medical conditions.
About the Author
N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe
N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe is a Health and Lifestyle Journalist with over 7 years of experience in the media industry. She holds a Master’s Degree in Communication from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Patkai Christian Coll …