Have you been tossing and turning every night because of insomnia? It's quite irritating and leaves you feeling tired and exhausted throughout the day! There are a ton of reasons why you aren't sleeping as comfortably as one should, with low testosterone being a significant factor in men. You'll be surprised that low testosterone and insomnia go hand-in-hand, with your hormone levels being the culprit, apart from other environmental factors!
The question is: Why does it happen? And how can you treat it?
Not to worry, as there are ways on how to improve your sleeping patterns and get you the proper sleep hygiene you need for better rest.
More...
Low Testosterone and Insomnia: How Are They Linked?
Back when I suffered from insomnia, I was having such a challenging time trying to get myself to sleep. And if I did sleep, it ends with me waking up during odd hours, taking even longer to go back to rest!
That's why I began doing my research. And what came was a bit of a shock: Even our hormones play a huge role in how well we sleep! How, exactly?
Let's first delve into what testosterone is. This is a hormone found in all humans and not just men. However, males would have a higher level of this hormone compared to women. Testosterone production increases throughout puberty then would begin decreasing once you hit your 30s, a natural result of aging.
Testosterone maintains a host of bodily functions in males, such as one's sex drive, sperm production, bone density, fat distribution, or even your muscle mass. And because it affects a lot of a man's functions, the decrease of it will result in many changes as well (and not the good change).
Not only will one experience reduced sex drive, but also a few physical changes as well, like increased body fat, less body hair, fatigue, and even fragile bones.
Unfortunately, even if it does bring on fatigue, low testosterone levels would also cause sleeping disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea. There is no exact reason as to why this happens. However, there is a strong correlation between your sleep and hormone levels. Not only does low hormone levels cause sleep disorders, but sleep apnea can also lead to low testosterone levels as well!
There are different reasons as to why one experiences low testosterone levels, and it isn't just because of aging. It can be through:
Tips on Improving Sleep and Hormones
So now you know how low testosterone and insomnia are linked with each other. But how can we ensure that we get the sound sleep? Balancing out your testosterone levels is one thing, but it's more than just medicine and other treatments. Here are some tips and lifestyle changes you can try to improve your hormones and sleep schedule:
1
Testosterone Therapy
This is one of the standard treatments men use to heighten their hormone levels. There are different ways on how to supplement your body with the testosterone it needs, such as:
There are also certain medications that can help boost your testosterone. If you're wondering how to get a prescription for various medicines for testosterone supplements, then you'll have to check with a medical professional.
Testosterone therapy is not for those who have had or have a risk of prostate cancer.
1
Get Yourself Checked
Last but not the least, it's imperative that you get checked with your doctor to monitor your testosterone levels. You can do so through a blood test, which is the only way you can determine your hormone levels. That way, you can address the cause of insomnia and figure out how you can treat it as soon as possible.
3
Sleeping Aids
If insomnia is the only symptom you experience or are uncomfortable with, then sleeping medication can help. However, I strongly recommend that you either choose this as a last resort or if prescribed by your doctor only. It's best to find natural ways to help with your sleep while continuing any treatment needed to balance your testosterone levels.
4
Healthy Diet and Exercise
Losing weight through daily exercise and a healthier diet is known to help with your sleep and hormones. By maintaining the recommended weight for your height and age, it slows down the decrease of testosterone levels.
Furthermore, eating whole foods and keeping up a moderate-intensity exercise routine can encourage better quality sleep. I suggest that you create weight loss or maintenance goals and begin consuming less sugar and processed foods. Begin exercising by walking or starting off with low-intensity workouts three to five times a week as well.
Bonus: Sleeping Tips
Besides these ways to help with your testosterone, here are extra tips to help encourage the better quality of rest:
Wrapping It Up
We've all been there, suffering from sleepless nights only to wake up after just a few hours of rest. But by balancing out your testosterone and following tips on sleeping better, you can enjoy a good night of sound rest.
I hope that this article linking testosterone and insomnia encouraged you to lead a healthier lifestyle. So don't wait any longer and try any of these tips to improve your sleep today!
If you have any questions or want to share your experiences on balancing out your testosterone for better sleep, then comment below. Your thoughts are much appreciated.
My name is Layla Parker, the founder of ASleepyWolf.com. At this site, our team is going to bring you a lot of reliable and useful information about sleeping and everything related to it such as the therapies that improve your sleep, the ways of sleeping you should try, all the products you use every day that affects directly to your sleep, your health, and your life.