Why Can’t I Wake Up Feeling Refreshed?

If you’re getting eight hours of sleep but still wake up feeling tired and worn out, you’re not getting quality sleep.

At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, sleep specialists Himanshu Chandarana, MD, and Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, offer comprehensive sleep testing services to measure your sleep quality. 

We offer at-home and in-office sleep studies to understand why you’re not feeling refreshed after a full night of sleep.

Our physicians also can personalize a treatment plan that helps you sleep throughout the night without interruptions. We focus on improving your sleep quality and, in turn, your quality of life.

Reasons why your sleep quality may be low

There are a number of reasons why your sleep quality may be low. Many people who experience daytime sleepiness and low energy levels aren’t able to achieve deep sleep.

Deep sleep is a sleep stage where your brain waves slow down and your body completely relaxes. This stage helps your body and brain recover from the day’s events and helps get you ready for the day to come. 

Without deep sleep, many of your body’s functions can suffer, including your energy levels, memory, and overall vitality.

You may be failing to reach the deep sleep stage because of:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Sleep apnea
• Caffeine use
• Restless legs syndrome

If you nap too much throughout the day, it can disturb your natural circadian rhythm and make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep at night.

Strategies for getting deep sleep

There are things you can start doing now to improve your quality of sleep at night, such as:

Follow a bedtime routine

Typically, people achieve deep sleep earlier in the night. Following the same bedtime routine every night can help improve your sleep quality.

Aim to go to bed each night and wake up each morning at the same time, even on weekends. You should get 8-9 hours of undisturbed sleep most nights.

Limit distractions

At least one hour before you go to bed, turn off all electronics, including your phone and television. Read a book or do another relaxing activity before you fall asleep.

Watch what you eat and drink

Don’t eat large meals before bedtime. Also, avoid caffeine and alcohol for several hours before you go to bed so you aren’t too wired to fall asleep.

Managing sleep disorders

If you undergo sleep testing and our team identifies sleep apnea or another sleep disorder, we can create a treatment plan to manage it.

Many people with sleep apnea achieve a deeper level of sleep using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. This device delivers supplemental oxygen into your body through a face mask you wear as you sleep.

If you’re kept awake by restless legs syndrome, we may prescribe medications to relieve the urges you have to move your legs.

We can also refer you to a therapist for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which gives you the resources you need to cope with the stress and anxiety that trigger insomnia.

If you’re tired all the time, sleep testing can help. To schedule a consultation, contact the Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep office today.