Sleep disturbances

Sleep disturbances are very common and can negatively impact your health and quality of life. Getting quality sleep is extremely important for both physical and mental health. If you're struggling with sleep issues like insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, or circadian rhythm disorders, there are solutions that can help.

What are some common sleep disturbances?

• Insomnia - Difficulty falling or staying asleep. This is the most common sleep disorder. Insomnia can be caused by stress, changes to your sleep schedule or environment, and underlying medical or mental health conditions.


• Sleep apnea - A disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts as you sleep. The most common type is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway. This condition can increase risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke if left untreated.


• Restless leg syndrome (RLS) - Unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move them. RLS symptoms often occur in the evening and nighttime and can significantly disrupt sleep quality.


• Circadian rhythm disorders - When your natural 24-hour sleep/wake cycle is disrupted, causing you to sleep at abnormal times. Examples include jet lag from traveling and shift work sleep disorder common in night shift workers.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed and treated?

If you regularly have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, feel unrested during the day, or your partner notices you stop breathing during sleep, it's important to talk to your doctor. Diagnosing the root cause of any sleep disturbances is key. At Butterfly Hormone Center(), we specialize in hormone testing to uncover potential hormonal imbalances related to sleep disorders like low melatonin, high cortisol and insufficient growth hormone pulses.

Common sleep disorder treatments range from behavioral therapy and improving sleep hygiene to medical devices like CPAP machines for sleep apnea or custom-made mouthpieces. In some cases, prescription medications may be required on a short-term basis to get sleep patterns back on track. Supplementing your natural melatonin production with our high-quality bioidentical melatonin tablets at key times is also an excellent sleep aid to help restore healthy sleep-wake cycles.

Healthy sleep habits you can start tonight

Implementing healthy sleep habits is one of the most effective natural ways to prevent and treat sleep problems. Here are 5 simple tips you can try tonight to improve your sleep quality:

• Establish a consistent sleep schedule - Go to bed/wake up at the same time daily, even weekends


• Create an ideal sleep environment - Cool, completely dark, comfortable bedding


• Limit exposure to blue light screens before bedtime


• Take a warm bath or try relaxation techniques like light yoga stretches


• Consider taking our pharmaceutical grade melatonin supplement 30 minutes before bedtime to help synchronize your body’s internal clock

Quality sleep is vital for good health. If you’re regularly struggling with sleep disturbances or abnormal sleep patterns, consult your healthcare provider right away or book a hormone balance assessment at Butterfly Hormone Center() to uncover the root hormonal causes and personalized treatment plans. Sleep well!