What Is Sleep Quality?

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Written by Jill Zwarensteyn, Editor

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Whether you’ve discussed your sleep habits with your doctor or have been looking online for ways to improve your sleep, the term “sleep quality” has likely come up. Sleep quality refers to a measurement of how well (or not so well) you are sleeping. Of course, many different factors can affect your sleep quality, along with varying ways to evaluate your quality of sleep.

In this article, we’ll detail how sleep quality is measured, what can impact your sleep quality, and how to achieve better sleep quality. Ultimately, our goal is not only helping you get more hours of rest but better overall sleep quality so that you feel rested, energized, and ready to take on the day.

How Do You Measure Sleep Quality?

The most popular sleep quality metrics¹ currently available revolve around measuring brain waves during sleep, heart rate variability (HRV), and levels of hormones such as cortisol and melatonin.

Brain waves can be measured by EEG machines² that use sensors attached to your head in order to determine what stage of sleep you are in. As you go through each stage of sleep, there is a shift in the frequency and amplitude of brain waves³. The most important states to measure for determining sleep quality are REM and deep sleep; however, it can be useful to get more information on all stages of your sleep cycle.

There are some rudimentary EEG machines available to buy, however, EEG machines are usually used in clinics during overnight sleep studies.

Heart rate variability⁴ is a little bit easier to measure at home, as it can be ascertained through various devices such as belts worn around your chest or smartwatches. Heart rate variability occurs when the amount of time between your heartbeats fluctuates a little bit.⁴ Having a heart that is highly variable is a good thing, as it means your body can adapt to many kinds of changes.

People with higher heart rate variability tend to be less stressed.⁴ That said, heart rate variability should be lower during sleep as the body relaxes for rest.⁴

Certain hormones also contribute to sleep quality. Gathering data on hormones can be done through simple saliva, urine, or blood tests which measure the levels of melatonin (a hormone responsible for inducing sleep) and cortisol (a hormone associated with stress).

Saliva tests, such as the kind that can be done at home through a self-test kit, are easy to use and widely available. Blood and urine tests are typically done in a lab or doctor’s office. The best way to measure hormones like melatonin⁵and cortisol is typically a blood test, so if you’re looking for the most accurate results, it might be best to make an appointment with your doctor.

What is the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index?

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index⁶ (PSQI) is a method of measuring sleep quality and patterns by evaluating seven different components:

Subjective sleep quality
Sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep)
Sleep duration
Habitual sleep efficiency (ratio of time spent sleeping vs. time intended for sleeping)
Sleep disturbances
Use of sleeping medication
Daytime dysfunction.

The subjective component of the PSQI test gives you a better idea of how you feel during the day and your general mood by asking questions such as “How restful was your sleep last night?” or “How would you rate your sleep quality?”.

The next part of the test looks at sleep latency⁷, which is an important predictor of how likely it is that you will develop a sleep disorder. Sleep latency is the amount of time it takes for you to fall asleep after going into your bed where you intend to rest.⁹

Next, the test asks about sleep duration and efficiency. While sleep duration is how long you sleep, sleep efficiency⁸ is the ratio of total time spent asleep to time in bed.

The PSQI also evaluates the occurrence of specific sleep disturbances, including insomnia, excessive waking after going to bed, and taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep on average every night. This test, which you can access online⁹, is useful for examining how your sleep patterns are affecting your overall health by looking at other measures such as heart rate variability.

What are the Factors that Affect Sleep Quality?

There are many factors that can influence how well we sleep, and while we can’t change some of these factors, making certain lifestyle modifications could help.

Age – Research¹⁰ shows that sleep problems are more common in older adults than younger adults. As we age, we experience a decrease in melatonin production¹¹. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that promotes sleepiness, so of course, the less you produce, the less tired you may feel. Other reasons older adults may struggle to sleep well include pain caused by arthritis, a decrease in physical activity, and a natural shift in the body’s internal clock.¹⁰

Sex – Insomnia is up to two times more common¹² in females than it is in males. This discrepancy between the sexes is often because of societal differences between men and women, however, it is also largely due to hormonal differences.¹²

Hormones – Women tend to have more irregular hormone levels than men, especially during their menstruation years. This hormonal fluctuation throughout the month may lead to sleep disturbances which can be made worse by stress levels.¹² Additionally, hormones fluctuate and can cause sleep disturbances during perimenopause and into menopause.

Fitness level – Evidence shows that exercising regularly¹³ helps people fall asleep more quickly and improves their overall sleep quality. In fact, just 30 minutes of exercise a day could improve sleep quality.¹³

Stress – When people are under stress it is common for them to experience many different health problems, including trouble sleeping¹⁴. This difficulty in sleeping is due to an elevation in stress hormones, like cortisol, which disrupts sleep.¹⁴

Diet – According to research, the foods you eat¹⁵ could impact how well you sleep. More specifically, people who consume more foods with tryptophan, tart cherries, and dietary supplements like zinc could see improvements in their sleep.¹⁵

Health conditions – Certain health conditions¹⁶ can contribute to a person’s risk for developing insomnia, including depression, heart problems, other sleep disorders, and pain. We’ll also go over additional health conditions that can affect sleep in further detail below.

Environment – Poor sleep quality may be related to external factors in the environment that interfere with sleep, such as noise or discomfort. If you live in a noisy environment, you may find it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Similarly, if you’re sleeping on a poor-quality mattress, you may find yourself tossing and turning for longer in the night.

Caffeine intake – Caffeine can have a negative impact on sleep quality up to six hours¹⁷ before bedtime. This means if you drink caffeine, you should have your last cup before 4:00 p.m. in order to get to sleep by 10:00 p.m.
Alcohol consumption – Alcohol is a depressant¹⁸ which means it depresses the central nervous system (including the brain), making it harder to get the restorative sleep we need. Even though alcohol can make you fall asleep faster, it disrupts sleep quality, especially during the second half of the night¹⁹.
Nicotine intake – Like caffeine, nicotine is a stimulant. This means it speeds up brain function and can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. Research shows that cigarette smoking²⁰ negatively impacts sleep quality overall, so if you are having trouble sleeping, it may be a good idea to quit. If you can’t, try not to smoke at least two hours before bedtime and preferably not within one hour of going to sleep.

Medications – Certain medications, such as antidepressants, those for epilepsy, and steroids could lead to insomnia.¹⁶ Make sure you talk to your doctor if you think one of your medications is inhibiting your sleep.

Sleep cycle – Each night we cycle through multiple sleep cycles, which last about 90 minutes. Each cycle is made up of four stages. Did you know, though, that the sleep stage you wake up in could impact how rested you feel?

The first two stages in a sleep cycle, NREM 1 and NREM 2, are a light sleep. Ideally, you’d want to wake up at the top of a cycle in a light sleep. However, waking up in NREM 3 or REM sleep, which are the final two stages, could leave you feeling groggy and less rested.

What is the Best Time Range for Quality Sleeping?

A recent study conducted by U.K. Biobank²¹ suggests that our circadian rhythm is best suited for going to sleep between the hours of 10:00 p.m. to midnight. The researchers concluded that deviations from this schedule could reduce sleep quality significantly, and increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, especially among women.²¹

However, keep in mind that this study is based on mainly recollection-based data collection, which can be difficult to verify given our forgetful nature as humans. The best time to go to sleep may be subjective.

Some people can go to bed at midnight regularly and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for the day early in the morning, while others may need to get in bed at 10:00 p.m. just so they can get a good night’s sleep. Either way, you should aim to get between seven and nine hours of sleep, though, and plan to go to sleep at a time that allows for this.

The best way to ensure you’re getting a good night’s sleep is to follow a regular schedule of going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, including weekends. This helps establish a rhythm that trains your body clock to know when it’s time for sleep and when it’s time for wakefulness.

What Health Conditions Are Linked to Poor Sleep Quality?

Certain health conditions can cause sleep disturbances and poor sleep quality, both directly and indirectly.

Thyroid Dysfunction– Hypothyroidism²² is a condition in which the thyroid gland cannot produce enough of its hormone thyroxine, which plays an important role in regulating our body’s clock. A lack of thyroxine can lead to chronic fatigue and sleep disturbances. Likewise, when there is an abundance of thyroxine due to hyperthyroidism, this can create a feeling of being “keyed up” or hyper and can make getting to sleep and staying asleep equally difficult.²²
Heart disease – People who have heart failure or other conditions that cause heart arrhythmias may find it difficult to fall asleep because of the changes in their heart rate. According to research²³, 23 to 73 percent of people with heart failure deal with chronic insomnia.
Cancer – Cancer treatments²⁴ often lead to problems with sleep. People who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments often experience fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, depressed moods, and pain – all symptoms that can negatively affect sleeping patterns.²⁴
Diabetes – According to recent findings²⁵, diabetes and sleep apnea have a bidirectional relationship, in that people with Type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of sleep apnea, and people with sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing diabetes. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder in which your breathing is interrupted while you sleep, and it can lead to other health problems as well as daytime fatigue.

How to Improve Sleep Quality

In some cases, more formal treatment may also be needed to improve sleep quality, especially if you’re dealing with a certain medical condition or sleep disorder. However, for many people, simply forming better sleep habits could yield positive results.

Get physically active – Research shows getting regular physical activity can lead to better sleep quality.¹³ If you don’t already have a regular fitness routine, it’s best to start slow with low-impact activities and work your way up. Walking, biking, and swimming are great low-impact, aerobic exercises. Additionally, weight training and resistance exercises could also help improve sleep quality²⁶.

Manage stress – High levels of stress have been shown to cause problems with sleeping patterns, so managing your stress is one of our best tips to increase sleep quality¹⁴. Try introducing some meditation, yoga, or deep breathing throughout the day and before bed. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and heavy meals close to bedtime can also help.
Keep a sleep schedule – Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can be a key factor in improving your sleep quality. Try going to bed about 30 minutes earlier each night until you fall asleep easily, and you’ll soon have a better idea of when you should start getting ready for bed.
Fix any problems in your bedroom – Having a comfortable sleep environment is key to falling asleep faster and maintaining good sleep quality. Your ideal sleep environment should be cool, dark, and completely quiet.

What items do you need for a night of good sleep?

If falling asleep or staying asleep is difficult for you, there are certain items you can use to help – especially if you live in an urban area with more lights or sound pollution.

Comfortable mattress and pillow – Most mattresses should last between seven and 10 years, depending on how well you take care of them. You can extend the life of your mattress by rotating it monthly – turn it head-to-foot so the weight is distributed evenly throughout its life. However, if your mattress is sagging or causing you pain, it may be time to invest in a replacement.
Air filter – if you’re having trouble breathing or allergies are a problem at night, an air filter could help you breathe more easily. Keep in mind that too much cold air can also cause your breathing to be interrupted, which leads to poor sleep quality.
White noise machine – A white noise machine can mask pesky noises that keep you awake, and it can also provide a calming routine that lulls you to sleep, training your mind to know when it’s time for rest.
Earplugs – If white noise isn’t doing the trick, you may want to invest in a pair of moldable earplugs to drown out the sound of traffic, pets, or a snoring partner.
Eye mask – Your bedroom should be as dark as possible, but in the event outside light is still peeking into your bedroom, an eye mask could help block out that light.
Weighted Blanket – A weighted blanket can be helpful for people who have poor sleep quality because of anxiety. The “deep pressure stimulation” created by the blanket calms the nervous system and may even increase melatonin production²⁷, helping you feel more sleepy.
Mattress – Of the must-have products for better sleep on this list, a mattress will probably make the most significant difference in your sleep environment, as it’s literally the foundation of good sleep. While it may be a large investment initially, it always pays off in the increased sleep quality and significant health benefits associated with resting well.

Learn more: How to Choose a Mattress

References:

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Jill Zwarensteyn

Editor

About Author

Jill Zwarensteyn is the Editor for Sleep Advisor and a Certified Sleep Science Coach. She is enthusiastic about providing helpful and engaging information on all things sleep and wellness.

Combination Sleeper