Feeling tired lately? Find out how the fall and winter weather may be affecting your sleep.
Now that it’s November, your sleep schedule may feel like it’s been changing. Between the colder weather and the sun setting earlier, our bodies are adjusting to the new weather and amount of sunlight we get during the day. These changes in temperature and daylight may be having a negative effect on your quality of sleep.
Lack Of Sunlight
We know it’s coming every year, but daylight savings time never gets any easier on our bodies. As the sun starts to set around 5 pm, we lose precious sunlight that is essential to our physical and mental health. Less sunlight means less vitamin D, which messes with our serotonin levels. Research has proven that many people experience depression and fatigue more often in the winter because of the lack of sunlight. Since the sun is setting so much earlier, the darkness affects when our bodies release melatonin- making us feel tired earlier than we normally would.
To combat the lack of vitamin D, it is important to be exposed to as much sunlight as possible throughout the day. Depending on skin pigmentation, people need anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes of sunlight every day to combat fatigue and depression. If you are unable to go outside, sitting by a window is a good alternative.
Allergies And Illnesses
As the weather gets colder, there is always a spike in cold and flu cases, which may also be related to the reduced exposure to the sun. Allergies are often very common in the fall and winter, often due to pollen, ragweed, and increased exposure to dust mites. Any type of sickness or allergies can cause sleeping problems, as we cough and sneeze through a restless night. Some medications, especially antihistamines, actually impair sleep quality as well. Also, studies have shown that colder weather correlates with an increase in arthritis pain, resulting in pain that makes it hard to get a good night’s sleep.
Get Your New Mattress at All American Mattress
At All American Mattress, we have the expertise and great prices to help you choose the perfect pillows and foam mattress for your bedroom. We have mattresses and bed frames available made from a variety of materials to suit your needs, whatever they are. Stop by our showroom, visit us online, or give us a call at (410) 451-9006 to see how we can get your toddler sleeping through the night. We offer brand names at affordable prices, and we will always work hard to keep your whole family comfortable. For more mattress shopping tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+.