What’s making you GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT?

From hot sweats to thunderous snores, whatever’s ruining your rest – here’s how to fix it

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Broken sleep is the stuff of nightmares – and not just at Halloween. Whether you frequently get up to glug water, experience frightening dreams in the dead of the night or have hormonal sweats that cause you to wake with a jolt, regular disturbances mess with your rest – and chronic sleep deprivation has an effect on both physical and mental health.

A lack of decent shut-eye weakens the immune system and can lead to problems, such as high blood pressure, poor memory, depression, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, so it’s vital you find out what’s waking you in the night. If these common causes sound familiar, we’ve got the expert solutions to help you sleep through.

Hot sweats

See-sawing hormones could be to blame. Night sweats are a common symptom of the menopause, when oestrogen levels decline – in fact, three in four women experience them. The body needs to be cool for good-quality sleep so, if we overheat, we’ll wake.

FIX IT

‘Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) works by correcting the hormone deficiency and should ease sweats within a few weeks,’ says GP and menopause specialist Dr Louise Newson. Speak to your GP about whether it’s right for you. ‘Limit alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods in the evening,’ she adds. Sleep in light, cotton nightwear and swap a duvet for a few sheets. 

Needing a wee