Surprising Things That Rob You of Sleep

When you have sleep apnea, the last thing you need is something else keeping you up at night.

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders, and if you’ve been suffering from it, then you are probably all too familiar with the feelings of exhaustion and fatigue. The last thing a sleep apnea sufferer needs is for something else to keep them up at night, but not all culprits of sleepless nights are obvious, like caffeine. There are many surprising things that can keep you up at night. Here are just a few of them:

#1. Dark Chocolate

If you wake up in the middle of the night with a hankering for chocolate, you’d be better off choosing milk chocolate or white chocolate rather than dark chocolate. Many people know that chocolate contains some level of caffeine, but did you know that a dark chocolate bar has roughly the same amount of caffeine as cup of tea? Additionally, dark chocolate has theobromine, which causes sleepiness and increases heart rate.

#2. Vitamins

If you choose to take vitamins, it’s best to do so in the morning. Some vitamins, particularly B vitamins, can hinder your sleep. Vitamin B6 can cause vivid dreams, which causes some people to wake up in the middle of sleep, and vitamin B12 can affect your melatonin levels, making it difficult to fall and stay asleep.

#3. Minty Mouthwash and Toothpaste

Peppermint and cinnamon can combat bad breath like nothing else, but these strong flavors can actually make it difficult for you to fall asleep. Studies have found that peppermint has a stimulating effect, and others have shown that cinnamon can make you feel more alert. Try brushing your teeth and swishing around the mouthwash a little bit earlier in the evening instead of right before bed to minimize these effects.

#4. Peppers

If you like a little spice in your life, nothing beats peppers. Many peppers, including green and red chilis, tabasco and cayenne, contain high amounts of capsaicin, which is what adds heat. Although capsaicin is a wonderful thing when you want to add a kick to your dinner, it might not be so great for your sleep cycle, because it has been shown to prevent sleep and promote wakefulness. Unfortunately, capsaicin can affect you hours after you eat it, so limit your intake to the morning and choose mild foods later in the day.

#5. Pain Medication

If you wake up in the middle of the night with a headache, double check the ingredients on your pain medication before you take it. Many pain medications contain caffeine, particularly those that treat headaches. This is because caffeine can provide relief and reduce inflammation, but it can also disrupt your sleep and leave you counting sheep all night instead of getting the rest you need.

As you can see, not everything that prevent sleep is obvious, and if you have sleep apnea or any other sleep disorder, it’s important to be careful about what you consume, especially close to bedtime. If you’ve been suffering from sleep apnea, BIPAP or CPAP therapy might be the right option for you, and here at CPAP Liquidators, we offer a variety of used CPAP and BIPAP machines. Shop with us today!