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What Causes Reduced Sleep At Night?

Posted on Sat, 15 Apr 2017

Question: I have trouble falling asleep at night, it take me hrs to fall asleep and when i get up in the morning I get at most the a of sleep or less. when I get up in the morning I feel worndown, slow, tired, and I drift off or fall asleep during the day while I'm in school. this happens everyday for over a month. How come I cant sleep at nights

i get at most 4hrs of sleep a night or less, like tonight its going to be less how can i fix my sleeping problem?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Stress is the most common cause for this.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You are having difficulty in sleep initiation.
And most common cause for this is stress.
Uncontrolled, un diagnosed stress can cause over thinking at night and this will lead to delayed sleep initiation, interrupted sleep etc.
Since you don't get good sleep at night, this reflects in day time with Tiredness, excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration etc.
So please let me know if you are having stressful life.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

no, I dont have that much of a stressful life just an average high school student stress but during the night time I am not stressed I am quit relaxed but still cannot sleep. I will even lay there and close my eyes. I keep waking up if i do end up sleeping I can me we get a full good night sleep

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (21 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Are you obese?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
If stress is not a problem in your case then we should rule out sleep apnea in your case.
It is seen in obese individuals.
So please let me know if you are obese.
What is your height?
What is your weight?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (23 minutes later)

no I'm and 5'3" and I am 124pounds

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your should get done detailed sleep study.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have calculated your BMI (body mass index). And it comes around 22.5. So you are not obese. So sleep apnea isn't ruled out.
In my opinion, you should get done sleep study to rule out sleep disturbances.
Have you ever undergone sleep study?
Since how many days you are having this sleeping problem?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

I don't snore and I have had this sleep problem for about over 3months. no I never had a slewp study

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It think you're should start alprazolam tablet at night.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should start alprazolam tablet at night before going sleep.
You should take it for 15-20 days and see for improvement.
I think you need prescription for this. So consult doctor locally and discuss your symptoms.
Even after starting alprazolam, you still face same sleeping problem then get done sleep study.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (50 minutes later)

I took melatonin and zzzquil to help me sleep and during it i would wake up sometimes and after I stop taking it I would have trouble sleeping again. what is alprazolam?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (56 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Alprazolam is newer benzodiazepine drug.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So you had been on sleeping pills.
Alprazolam is newer benzodiazepine drug. It is also a sleeping pill but it is non habit forming one.
Had you consulted doctor for your sleeping problem?
Are these sleeping tablets available over the counter?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

yes i have consulted my Dr and they don't think anything of it. I believe these sleeping tablets are not over the counter

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
In my opinion, you should take counseling sessions.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Well, I think you should definitely consult psychotherapist for counseling sessions.
Counselling about stress management, sleep habits, diet habits, exercise etc play very important role in overall good health including sleep habit of the person.
So consult psychotherapist and discuss all these.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (37 minutes later)

I talk to a couseler from my school, my diet and exercise habits are good. I'm a pretty calm, relaxed and down to earth person, I just cant seem to sleep at night and stay asleep, not satisfied when i wake up in the morning, should I get a sleep study done or try something else

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Have you checked for thyroid diseases?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Well, in that case, we should definitely rule out systemic diseases first.
Thyroid diseases can cause sleep disturbances. Anaemia is also a cause.
So please let me know if you had checked for all these in the past?
Can you send me your picture?
I am asking for this because some disease can be think of by seeing patient.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (17 minutes later)

no I have not been checked for any of that but this is a pic of me to help you

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I want to ask you some personal questions but only if you allow.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I have gone through your picture.
I want to ask you some personal questions but only if you allow.
It's absolutely fine if you don't want to answer.
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (10 minutes later)

yes u can ask me personal questions. i will answer any question to the best of my ability.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (12 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have normal menstrual cycle?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Thanks for your positive attitude.
Please let me know i
1. Do you have normal menstrual cycle?
2. Are you sexually active?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (48 minutes later)

yes a normal cycle and no never have I been sexually active. hope that helps guide u to an answer

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You look very young. Look around 12-13 years old.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
My main concern behind asking those questions I you look very young, around 12-13 years old, not 18 years old.
Sometimes delayed sexual development can also cause hidden stress and sleep disturbances.
By any means you feel that you are not having fully sexually developed and are you stressed about this?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 hours later)

yes i an 18, thank you I have been told I look very young, it kind of runs in the family with all the females but. I have fully sexually developed, no im not stressed about it, but never been sexually active im too young for that to my belief. it says I have 1 question left so either this might be that one before it charges me for more or I have another one left. but please contine to help me figure out why I have trouble sleeping and staying awake during the day

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Sleep study is the only answer.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You don't have stress. You have everything normal. Still you have sleep problems.
So sleep study is must for you to diagnose this.
Sometimes problems in REM and NREM sleep cause such symptoms.
So better to consult sleep specialist and get done detailed sleep study.
Do let me know your progress.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D