We’ve got all the ways to sleep better if you are a snorer, have night sweats or bad dreams are spoiling your happy bedtime ending. So here’s how to have a good night’s sleep…
If Sleeping Beauty were set in the real world, Prince Charming would find the princess tangled in her duvet and rocking haywire hair, with a boob falling out the side of her vest top. She might also be snoring, sweating, mumbling and farting (just like the rest of us), though we doubt she’d want that shouted from the castle turrets. Because, according to a study in the Journal Of Clinical Sleep Medicine, women under-report snoring, thanks to social stigma, while a YouGov report found only a quarter of us would see our doc about sleep problems. Even in 2021, we still feel the Sleeping Beauty pressure – a belief that it’s more ‘ladylike’ to be a perfect snoozer. Well, we’re calling time on the fairy tale: we should not be made to feel self-conscious about any of our nocturnal habits! But if your slumber issues are genuinely causing you woe or health problems, read on for some magic bedtime strategies…
Sleeping Beauty: myth 1
Bad snoring only happens to the kingdom’s blokes: If your snoring could wake a dragon (or the neighbours), join the gang: 12.5% of us snore, although it could be more if the aforementioned stigma research is anything to go by. What’s going on? Your tongue, mouth, throat and airways in your nose relax and narrow during sleep. As you breathe, they vibrate and can create a sound. Your tongue can fall back, or your mouth can fall open, which further hinders smooth airflow. Intriguingly, research suggests that although oestrogen and progesterone can protect some women from snoring, they can also cause a predisposition to the condition. ‘I find a lot of women present [with snoring] later in life when these hormones have reduced during the peri- and post-menopausal periods,’ says Dr Sara McNeillis, sleep and anaesthesia consultant at UCLH’s ENT Snoring and Sleep Disorder Clinic.
Your sleep-fairy godmother says: If snoring’s disrupting your sleep (or your bed buddy’s), you’re feeling tired or exhausted during the day, or if you’ve been told you’re making gasping/choking noises, see your GP to rule out sleep apnoea – this disorder can lead to high blood pressure and other issues if it’s not dealt with. Booze, smoking, extra kilos and back-sleeping can all boost your likelihood of snoring.‘Try videoing yourself with your phone for clues,’ says Dr McNeillis. Is your mouth open? What position are you in? ‘If you snore worse on your back, it could be that your tongue is falling back and closing off that airflow,’ she explains. In that case, speak to your doctor, who can provide you with suitable treatment options. Consider some self-help, too, with Snoreeze Snoring Relief Throat Spray. The Soundly Reduce Snoring app uses games to exercise the upper airway (a University of Minnesota study found users reduced their snoring rate by 22%). And consider treating bae to EXCLUSIVE Boots Soft Silicone Earplugs!
Sleeping Beauty: myth 2
We hardly break a (k)night sweat: Forget a wake-up smooch – many of us would prefer a towel, fan and fresh nightie. One US study found 41% of people experienced night sweats in a month. They can be driven by anxiety, medications (including some antidepressants), alcohol, low blood sugar and even an excessive-sweating condition called hyperhidrosis. An after-dark drenching can also strike if you’re menopausal (75% of women get hot flushes) or post-pregnancy, thanks to hormonal changes that affect your body’s temperature control, explains Dr Philippa Kaye, GP and author of The M Word: Everything You Need to Know About The Menopause (Summersdale).
Your sleep-fairy godmother says: See your GP if you think it’s linked to anxiety, meds, a health issue, or if you regularly wake with soaking sheets for no reason – the latter could indicate an underlying condition, says Dr Kaye, especially if you also have unexplained weight loss. Postnatal sweats usually ease after a few weeks, as your hormones settle. Be prepared, with light, cotton clothes, keeping the bedroom cool and having a glass of water beside your bed. Menopausal? Grab some dumbbells – Swedish researchers reckon three resistance workouts a week may help combat night sweats. Also, a study in the NAMS journal Menopause suggests cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) – which teaches practical coping strategies – may help with hot flushes and disturbed sleep. Ask your doc about meds and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to help manage symptoms, too. Avoid sweat triggers, such as caffeine and alcohol, and try cooling remedies, like layers on your bed (so you can move the duvet but have a top sheet to ward off the chill). Consider the JML Chillmax Pillow, which contains cooling gel.
Sleeping Beauty: myth 3
Our sleep is so serene, not even Prince Charming’s kiss would rouse us: If the princess had a creeping sensation in her legs, plus a real urge to move them, we bet that would’ve roused her. These are symptoms of restless leg syndrome (RLS), which can also be associated with leg jerks during sleep. Up to 11% of us are affected, with women twice as likely to develop it. ‘RLS may have something to do with the chemical dopamine, which is involved in controlling muscle movement,’ says Dr Kaye. ‘It can sometimes be related to iron-deficiency anaemia and kidney [problems], plus one in five pregnant women will also have symptoms [in the third trimester], although it generally disappears within four weeks of the birth.’
Your sleep-fairy godmother says: Check with your GP to see whether symptoms could be linked to a treatable health issue, such as iron deficiency or any meds you’re taking. ‘Exercise and staying hydrated can help,’ says Dr Kaye. ‘Avoid stimulants, such as alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.’ Try a warm bath before bed and hot/cold compresses on your legs during flare-ups. Charity RLS-UK suggests ‘hot-cold contrast therapy’ before bed to increase blood flow to the legs: take a five-minute shower, alternating 20 seconds of cold water and 10 seconds of warm water, then spend a final few minutes relaxing under warm water. Do seek advice about any symptom concerns from your GP and check out rls-uk.org for support.
Sleeping Beauty: myth 4
We only dream of handsome princes: Whether you’re plagued by scary scenarios or wicked witches (like the colleague who loves a pass-agg email), dreams aren’t always happily-ever-after territory. ‘They can be made up of anything you know, can imagine or have experienced,’ says Dr Neil Stanley, director of sleep science at NHS-approved programme Sleepstation. ‘For some, a nightmare can be a reliving of a traumatic event.’ For others, bad dreams can be linked to certain meds, health conditions and even everyday stress. Anxiety-inducing ones (running late, no matter what you do, standing on stage naked) can be a reminder to tackle everyday stress in your waking life.
Your sleep-fairy godmother says: If dreams are troubling you, talk to your GP as a starting point. French research suggests people who wake a lot during the night are more likely to recall dreams. ‘Look at what’s disturbing your sleep – pain, anxiety, your bed partner – and figure out how you can stop it,’ says Dr Stanley. Prioritise quality sleep with regular hours and a wind-down routine sans caffeine (try a decaf alternative such as Pukka Organic Night Time Herbal Tea Sachets) and no alcohol. As for the content of your dreams? Snooze boffins are intrigued by ‘lucid dreaming’ – a state where the dreamer knows they’re dreaming, which can enable them to control what happens. It takes practice, but a University of Adelaide study found people increased their likelihood of lucid dreaming by waking up after five hours, then repeating, ‘The next time I’m dreaming, I will remember that I’m dreaming’ as they drifted off again. Worth a go!
