You might not realize it, but all of your organs and the way you sleep are somehow interconnected. Including your thyroid. It may seem insignificant, but the thyroid can play a huge role in how you sleep at night. So, here is the relation between sleep and thyroid issues, and if you have the symptoms, you should see an endocrinologist and a sleep doctor Silver Spring.

The Thyroid Gland & Sleep

The thyroid gland is a gland that is present at the base of your neck at the front. If you know anything about glands and the hormones they secrete, then you would know that no hormone is ever just there for kicks. Every single hormone is responsible for maintaining the balance of your body, its organs, and its physiology.

The thyroid gland, specifically, is responsible for things like muscle control, brain functions, digestion, heart rate, and how it can pump efficiently and other things, like hair and nail growth.

The thyroid gland is associated with tons of functions in the body, so it is deemed a very important thing in the human body. So, any problem with the thyroid gland is going to derail everything and it can cause a lot of issues, including issues with your sleep.

Yes. Sleep is no exception when it comes to thyroid issues. There are so many things that are interrelated to sleep, like muscle function, the heart rate, and digestion – and if any of these things lead to derailment, then you better get ready, because sleep issues will not be far away.

The bottom line is that thyroid and sleep are related, and if there’s a problem with one thing, the other will ultimately derail.

Hypothyroidism & Hyperthyroidism

The thyroid is a gland and this gland secretes certain hormones which help to regulate countless things in your body, from your weight to your sleep.

Hyperthyroidism

If the thyroid gland is producing too much hormones, then the condition is known as hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. Sometimes, autoimmune disorders, like Graves’ disease, can also cause hyperthyroidism, which can in turn lead to sleep problems and/or even allergy symptoms.

This is a very serious condition and it can cause a multitude of issues, including:

• Daytime sleepiness – which can cause you to be wide awake at night.
• Waking up suddenly in the middle of the night.
• Cold sweats during the night which can make you super uncomfortable and you will feel very cranky and irritated in the morning.
• The urge to go to the bathroom multiple times during the day as well as the night, and this can really disrupt your sleep and make you feel tired in the morning.

Hypothyroidism

On the flip side, when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce a lot of hormones, then the condition is known as hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid.

It can also lead to multiple issues, because producing too little or too much hormone is not ideal and it needs to be uniformly regulated. Hypothyroidism can cause issues like:

• You feel very restless in the middle of the night. It has to do with your body feeling shaky and that really messes up your sleep.
• It can also cause you to feel very cold and shivery at night and if you know anything about sleep and sleeping well, the temperature really matters. If your body is not regulating the temperature, then you will feel cold and you will ultimately stay up at night, which is not good.

What To Do To Sleep Better?

So, now that you know the relation between sleep and your thyroid gland and the type of issues it can cause related to sleep when you’re suffering from a thyroid issue, the next thing you want to combat is the actual sleep disorder. How can you ensure that you get a good night’s rest, even with thyroid issues? Well, here is a list of things that you can try.

Get A Diagnosis

This is meant not only for your thyroid but also for your sleeping issues too. If one thing is causing another debilitating issue, then you have to get to the bottom of the problem and have a doctor diagnose it. If you don’t know that you suffer from thyroid problems, then a simple blood test will leave everything put in the open, given that you get it done.

As for your sleep issues, you also want to get the diagnosis out of the way, because you never know if you have chronic underlying sleep issues that are causing the problem to intensify. It is always safe to check by visiting a sleep clinic Baltimore.

Check The Temperature Before You Sleep

The right temperature when you sleep can do wonders for your mental health, because if you sleep well, then you will be unstoppable in the day. The temperature matters because it releases all of the tension in the body.

It won’t solve thyroid problems overnight, but if your sleep tends to get disrupted because of the wrong temperature at night, then you can at least get this out of the way and you will see the difference in no time. A temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit is really comfortable and it won’t be too hot or too cold for you at night.

Have A Routine

Having a routine can really streamline things for you. This is such an underrated thing that you can do, which will completely change your life. Having a routine and waking up and falling asleep at a set time is going to regulate your body in the best of ways.

A lot of the time, not having a routine and just sleeping whenever and wherever can put your sleep cycle into haywire, and that is not good at all. So, even if you have thyroid issues, try this tip out, and you will see the difference in no time.

No Stimulants Before Bed

This is kind of a no-brainer, but you have to avoid stimulants at night, especially before bed. If you’re a die-hard fan of coffee, tea, and even alcohol or sugary fizzy drinks at night, then you are whacking your sleep schedule on your own.

This is not good at all, especially when you’re suffering from thyroid issues, which are already putting your sleep in jeopardy. So, you want to resist the urge to have that black gold before bed. It will be better for you in the long run and you won’t be wide awake at night.

Have A Healthy Lifestyle

This is also one of those tips that you hear all the time but never implement. Well, having a healthy lifestyle will not only lead to better sleep, but a healthy thyroid gland too and that is a fact. What you want to realize is that being healthy doesn’t mean that you have to eat greens and lean meat 3 times a day for the rest of your life.

It means having a balance, nourishing your body with good food, satisfying your cravings, and moving your body frequently. This is what a healthy lifestyle amounts to and if you want to start navigating your life with thyroid and sleep issues, then this is the key.

Conclusion

Thyroid issues are really common, so you best believe that it will cause disruption in sleep too. Therefore, if you notice sleep problems, visit a sleep center Walkersville sooner than later.