Is Your Ability To Instantly Fall Asleep Actually A Red Flag?

There are those of us who toss and turn at night, struggling to drift off.

And then there are those of us who smugly hop into bed, lie down and fall asleep within seconds of our heads touching the pillow. 

If you fall into the latter camp, you might be thinking you’re onto a winning formula.

But it turns out drifting off rapidly might be a sign you’re not getting enough quality https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sleep">sleep.

Why falling asleep quickly can be a red flag

Omar El-Gohary, superintendent pharmacist at https://www.iqdoctor.co.uk/">IQ Doctor, said consistently falling asleep extremely quickly isn’t always a good thing.

“Many people think falling asleep the moment their head hits the pillow is a sign of good sleep health, but in reality, it can sometimes mean the opposite,” he said.

“Although it may seem ideal, consistently drifting off within just a few minutes can be a sign that your body is carrying a significant sleep debt and is struggling to stay awake.”

How long should it take you to fall asleep?

El-Gohary suggested a healthy adult will usually take https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/how-long-does-it-take-to-fall-asleep" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">around 10 to 20 minutes to fall asleep.

But if you’re regularly falling asleep almost instantly, it may suggest you’re not getting enough quality sleep.

According to Verywell Health, falling asleep in less than five minutes can signal an https://www.verywellhealth.com/could-falling-asleep-too-fast-be-a-sleep-problem-3015146" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“unhealthy level of sleepiness”. 

In some cases, the pharmacist suggested it can also be linked with underlying sleep disorders such as obstructive https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/sleep-apnoea/">sleep apnoea, which can disrupt sleep quality without you realising it.

It could also occur as a result of an underlying thryoid issue, chronic pain, restless legs syndrome or narcolepsy.

Other signs you might be sleep deprived

In addition to falling asleep at the drop of a hat, the pharmacist suggested other signs of sleep deprivation include:

• Needing multiple coffees (or caffeinated drinks) to simply feel normal.
• Feeling tired despite sleeping for seven or eight hours.
• Experiencing persistent brain fog, forgetfulness and reduced focus. 
• Becoming irritable more easily. 
• Being able to fall asleep anywhere – whether that’s the sofa, in the back of the car, or on a train. 

Long working hours, late-night screen use, stress and irregular sleep schedules can all contribute to chronic sleep deprivation, said El-Gohary. 

Parents are also more likely to be sleep deprived – https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sleep-deprivation-uk-mothers_uk_67ff8f85e4b051f6e26eaf23">a survey by Calm revealed 89% of UK mothers reported sleep deprivation and 94% linked sleep loss to increased anxiety and https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/depression">depression.

If you’re routinely falling asleep very quickly, and you’re also experiencing symptoms such as daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, headaches, memory issues or needing excessive caffeine to function, El-Gohary said it’s worth speaking to a healthcare professional.

“Sleep should leave you feeling refreshed, alert and energised the next day, not constantly trying to catch up,” he ended.