4 Sleep Changes A Sleep Scientist Would Never, Ever Ignore

I am aware, in theory, that the seasons change. But the endless darkness of UK winters never fails to take me, or my sleep schedule, by surprise. 

I have begun “drockling”. My 3am wake-ups have increased. And though I ought to know better, I’ve been struggling to relax when they occur – paradoxically, stressing about the perfect night’s sleep keeps me up all night.

But are these true red flags, or just normal sleep fluctuations?

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Hannah Shore, the Head of Sleep Science at Mattress Online, said: “Many different things can affect sleep, from daylight
exposure to stressful events and even the temperature of the room. So when we have periods of sleep that aren’t as good as we get on average, this is completely normal.

“However, there are certain things we should be keeping a closer eye on to ensure that your sleepiness isn’t actually an underlying sleep disorder.” 

Here are four signs she says she’d never ignore:

1) Prolonged sleep difficulties

“If your sleep issues are lasting for a long period of time (three to four times a week for around three to four months)… something out of your control
may be going on, and you may want to speak to a medical professional,” she said. 

This is in line with a doctor’s “3-3-3” rule, which suggests bad sleep for at least three nights a week over three months or more is worth investigating. 

2) Snoring

Shore isn’t just talking about “purring” here, but “loud and irregular noises,” which are “accompanied by moments of paused breaths whilst sleeping.

“These are key signs of obstructive sleep apnoea [OSA], a sleep-related breathing disorder which is becoming increasingly more prevalent and can be treated with medical help,” she continued.