Contributing factors to quality sleep
Sleep quality is impacted by many contributing factors. Sleep position, cortisol levels, dietary considerations, light exposure, and many more factors all play a role in sleeping. Many of us are looking for ways to improve our sleep quality, because of the myriad of benefits that high-quality sleep provides:
- Improved alertness and memory
- Reduction of chronic pain
- Reduced inflammation
- Increased energy levels
One of the most often overlooked factors for improving overall sleep quality is the body’s primary stress hormone: cortisol. Cortisol is an internal chemical signal that is released as a response to external or internal stressors.
Anxiety inducing situation increase cortisol levels in the body. For example, when you get pulled over and your heart rate increases, your palms become sweaty, and your breathing rate picks up, that is a sign of a cortisol boost. Cortisol is also an important regulatory hormone in the body that is at its peak levels in the morning. Continue reading to learn more about how cortisol can affect sleep.