Sleep disorders, like sleep apnea and insomnia, are becoming more and more prevalent as time goes on for various reasons. One of the biggest reasons, some professionals theorize, it is because of nicotine usage. If you or someone you know is addicted to or consumes nicotine regularly, the odds of them having some sort of sleeping disorder or problems sleeping are drastically higher than those who do not use nicotine.
The Negative Effects
How does your nicotine disrupt your sleep? Well, because nicotine is a stimulant drug, after you take a hit or puff, many people feel a little zing of energy. This can negatively affect their body’s bedtime routine and make it harder to fall asleep initially. Those who smoke are also at a higher risk of developing a sleeping disorder or condition, making it challenging to stay soundly asleep or make it nearly impossible to feel well-rested once you wake up.
If you feel awake the next day, what’s the big deal if you are not receiving the recommended amount of sleep? Well, if you are not sleeping enough and overworking your tired body by masking your exhaustion with more nicotine, you are largely increasing your risk of additional, serious health issues since nicotine is a dangerous and highly addictive chemical.
Tips and Tricks
So, if you are currently having issues sleeping and you use nicotine, there are a couple of things that you could do to help make sure you are getting all of the sleep you need.
- Stick to a consistent sleep schedule.
- Try to avoid using any stimulants like nicotine or caffeine about 4 or 6 hours before bed.
- Turn off or put away your phone a little bit before bedtime.
If you are still having a hard time getting to and staying asleep, it might be time to reach out to a professional to help you treat your sleeping disorder. Luckily if you are in the Jacksonville, FL area, there is a sleep clinic that specializes in helping and treating people’s insomnia and other sleep disorders. The Jacksonville Sleep Center has a long-standing accreditation as a Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and is a proud affiliate of Baptist Health. So, give The Jacksonville Sleep Center in Jacksonville, Fl, a call today to set up your first appointment!