“Jealous?” If You Fall Asleep the Moment Your Head Hits the Pillow, It Could Be a Sign of This Problem
People who fall asleep within just a few minutes of putting their head on the pillow are often envied by others. But according to experts, falling asleep that quickly doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting enough quality sleep.
It could be a sign that your body has built up a sleep debt, that your sleep quality is poor, or that you may have an undiagnosed sleep disorder.
According to British media outlet The Sun, Omar El-Gohary, lead pharmacist at IQ Doctor, said that healthy adults generally take about 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep. “If you’re falling asleep almost instantly every night, you may be spending enough time in bed but not getting the restorative, high-quality sleep your body needs,” he explained. He added that this could also be linked to conditions that repeatedly disrupt sleep, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
El-Gohary pointed to long working hours, late-night screen use, stress and irregular sleep schedules as factors that can contribute to chronic sleep deprivation. Falling asleep the moment your head hits the pillow may not be a sign that your body is functioning at its best. Instead, it could be your body’s way of signaling that you are simply too exhausted to stay awake.
Falling asleep unusually quickly once or twice after an especially busy or exhausting day may not be a cause for concern. However, if you continue to feel tired during the day, have difficulty concentrating, become easily irritable, experience headaches or memory problems, or find yourself relying heavily on caffeine just to get through the day, experts recommend speaking with a healthcare professional.
Frequently nodding off while watching TV, riding as a passenger in a car, or sitting quietly during the day can also be signs that your body is trying to make up for a lack of sleep.
Spending seven or eight hours in bed does not necessarily mean you are getting restorative sleep. Sleep apnea, for example, can repeatedly interrupt your sleep throughout the night without you even remembering that you woke up. If you need several cups of coffee just to feel functional in the morning, or if you wake up feeling mentally foggy and increasingly forgetful, it may be worth taking a closer look at your sleep quality.
To improve sleep quality, experts recommend going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every day. It is also helpful to stop using smartphones, tablets and laptops at least an hour before bedtime. If fatigue persists or you consistently fall asleep almost immediately after getting into bed, consider talking with a healthcare professional.
El-Gohary emphasized that healthy sleep should not be judged by how quickly you fall asleep. “What matters is whether you wake up feeling rested and ready to start the day with a clear mind,” he said.
Source: 코메디닷컴 (https://kormedi.com/2870528/)