Insomnia hits 'just before 4am'

Wednesday, 2 November 2011 10:15 AM

Insomnia-wrecked Brits are more likely to wake up at 3.44am than at any other time during the night, researchers found.

Dripping taps, noisy neighbours, restless partners and attention-seeking pets were a few of the sleep menaces named by 3,000 Brits, surveyed by herbal sleep remedy A.Vogel Dormeasan.

More than a third answering the survey said bad sleeping habits mean they lack of energy and four in ten say awaking in the night means they struggle to concentrate the next day.

Some admitted to catching an extra 40 winks mid-evening while watching TV.

60% admitted that they stay up late to watch television and one in five say they go to bed later than they should to play computer games.

Seven to eight hours sleep is thought to be ideal for maximum health benefits. Disturbed sleep and insomnia has been linked to stress and anxiety, and even increased risk of heart attack.

Experts recommend a period of ‘wind-down’ time to ensure a good night’s sleep. Avoid watching TV, surfing the net or working in the bedroom before bed.

Dr Jen Tan, medical director of A.Vogel said: ''Many people rush hectically through their day and then collapse into bed without a period of calm to allow their adrenal glands to switch off. Without sleep the body struggles to repair and everyday tasks become harder.”

Successful sleepers go to bed at 10pm

Survey reveals secrets of successful sleep

Want a good night’s sleep tonight? Have a cup of tea, pop on your pyjamas and go to bed at 10pm exactly. A poll of 2,000 adults for bed linen brand Bedeck focussed on the evening habits of people who claimed to sleep well every night of the week.

 Some people need more sleep than others

Need for sleep 'pre-determined by genes'

Margaret Thatcher famously managed on four hours of sleep a night while Albert Einstein needed 11 - now a study suggests why. Our need for sleep may be pre-determined by genes, with one in five Europeans carrying a variation of a gene known as ABCC9.
Snoring and talking are keeping us awake

He snores, you talk - how do Brits get any sleep?

New research shows snoring, fidgeting and sheet stealing are keeping British babes awake, as sharing a bed with another person sparks a number of daily complaints. A report found the nation's top sleeping bugbears are usually down to the other half.

 Seven hours of sleep is the optimum

Sleep seven hours a night to cut stroke risk

The trend for late nights and early mornings is a ticking time bomb for our health, with lack of sleep linked to heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. A team at the University of Warwick followed up more than 470,000 case studies.
A lack of sleep can make you unwell

The importance of sleep

You know how it is. Trying to balance a social life, family life and work life can often leave you feeling somewhat burnt out. Research has shown that not getting enough sleep can affect your immune system and therefore leave you more at risk of getting ill.

 Get beautiful, bright eyes

How to avoid under-eye circles

Dark circles under eyes are one of the things we all get from time to time. A bad night's sleep or feeling a little run down can lead to dark circles and, let's be honest, they can be very unflattering! But are they just a fact of life or can we do anything to get rid of them?

Post-pregnancy exercises can be tough

Post-pregnancy exercise tips

After giving birth to your little bundle of joy the last thing you probably want to do is exercise. Indeed, those first few weeks the only thing on your mind is likely to be sleep and when you’re going to be able to get some.

 A good night's sleep will improve your looks

Sleep in for a beauty boost

There's a free way to boost your beauty - get more sleep! Sunday is National Sleep In Day, as the clocks go back and we get an extra hour in bed, so take advantage of the time to tackle those dark shadows under your eyes and boost your complexion.

Smartphone addiction 'can make you stressed'

Turn off the work phone when you get home

Too much time spent working on smartphones and other mobile devices can cause a raft of health problems - people tend to maintain an awkward posture that might lead to pain in the back and neck, as well as stress-related illness.

The ultimate 15minute at-home workout

Follow these 7 steps and you'll have the perfect at-home workout. Image: Thinkstock

Burn calories and tone up fast with this intense 15 minute workout you can do in your sitting room!