The Cause
Difficulties with falling asleep or staying asleep are common. One of the most common causes of poor sleep is chronically elevated stress. Two of the organs most influenced by stress are the adrenal glands and the brain.
The adrenal glands secrete cortisol in response to stressful situations, whether perceived or factual. In many ways, your body cannot distinguish between an event that places you in real danger and a situation that "stresses you out". Long ago, the sympathetic branch of the nervous system was intended to propel us into "fight or flight", producing the cascade of physiological reactions that prepares us to deal with danger.
During this time, we experience a racing heart, tremors, elevated respiratory rate, rerouting of metabolic energy to the muscles, and much more. However, we seldom require this mechanism to propel us out of harm's way in modern life. Instead, we live in an environment that frequently stimulates stress in response to non-dangerous stressors, such as traffic, a never-ending to-do list, or the need to live up to societal expectations. Herein lies the problem; some of us are in perpetual "fight or flight" simply due to the high-stress, fast-paced lifestyles we are living in, which eventually leads to imbalanced cortisol levels and, thereby, sleep challenges.
Cortisol and Sleep
Many are familiar with the detrimental effects of prolonged elevated cortisol, but equally or perhaps more problematic is a reduced or sub-optimal cortisol level, as seen in "adrenal fatigue" and "adrenal exhaustion." Cortisol balances our blood sugar, manages blood pressure, bolsters the immune system, and is an attempt by the body to reestablish homeostasis in the presence of stress. Further, cortisol is released in a daily pattern. That is, we get cortisol spikes daily to help with energy and either get or keep us going. When stressed, we can secrete cortisol at irregular times, causing sleep disruption. Our body tells us to get up and go when trying to rest and sleep. We will work to support, repair, or replace your cortisol based on your level of adrenal maladaptation.
Hormones and Sleep
Another common cause of sleep disturbance is sub-optimal hormone levels. In men, Testosterone is a receptor agonist that activates Serotonin and Dopamine in the brain. Serotonin is a direct precursor of melatonin, which many are familiar with for its benefits for sleep. Serotonin is also associated with positive mood, as this is the neurotransmitter most often replaced or perpetuated with anti-depressant drugs. Testosterone has also been associated with increased GABA production, which is a calming, inhibitory neurotransmitter related to curbing anxiety and improving sleep. Medications such as Valium and Xanax increase GABA but are addictive and often difficult to wean off of.
In women, Estrogen and Progesterone support the same inhibitory neurotransmitters, Serotonin and GABA, respectively. This is why many women may start having issues sleeping during perimenopause. This is the time Estrogen and Progesterone start to fall, resulting in mood and sleep disturbances for many.
Underlying Causes
At Regenerative Medicine of Carmel, we will address the underlying causes of your sleep issues. Whether stress-related, structural, or caused by a metabolic/neurotransmitter imbalance, we strive to reestablish proper balance, allowing you to return to deep, natural sleep by working with your body, not against it.
