Sleep problems

What defines sleep problems and why do they matter?

Sleep problems refer to any difficulty related to falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep. For some, it’s occasional. For others, it’s a nightly battle. Good sleep is foundational for hormone regulation, immune strength, mental clarity, and emotional balance.

When sleep is compromised, your entire system suffers. You may feel groggy, unmotivated, short-tempered or wired-but-tired. Over time, poor sleep affects stress levels, blood sugar, thyroid function and sex hormones — all of which create a vicious cycle that makes sleep even harder.

Which signs suggest you’re not getting proper sleep?

• Trouble falling asleep despite feeling tired
• Waking up during the night and struggling to fall back asleep
• Feeling unrested even after 7–9 hours in bed
• Heavy reliance on caffeine or sugar to function
• Brain fog, irritability or mood swings
• Low libido or irregular menstrual cycles
• Cravings for carbs or late-night snacking
• Frequent infections or poor immune function

What underlying issues lead to persistent sleep problems?

The root cause of sleep problems is rarely “just stress.” It often involves a combination of deeper disruptions across your body’s systems.

Key root causes include:

• Hormonal imbalance: Low progesterone, high cortisol at night, or oestrogen dominance can interfere with restful sleep.
• Blood sugar instability: Night-time glucose crashes can wake you up in a panic, triggering adrenaline.
• Thyroid dysfunction: Both underactive and overactive thyroids can cause sleep disruption.
• Poor gut health: Inflammation, low melatonin production, or imbalanced gut bacteria can throw off circadian rhythms.
• Nutrient deficiencies: Low magnesium, zinc, or B vitamins can impair the nervous system’s ability to relax.
• Sleep hygiene and lifestyle: Irregular sleep patterns, late-night screens, alcohol and stimulants can all interfere.

How do you find the root cause of your sleep issues?

To understand what’s really driving your sleep problems, we recommend functional lab tests. These go deeper than standard bloodwork and can uncover imbalances missed in conventional assessments.

Depending on your symptoms, your Functional Medicine Specialist may explore:

• Cortisol rhythm testing (saliva) to track stress hormones across the day and night
• Thyroid panel (including T3, T4, TSH, and antibodies)
• Sex hormone testing (like progesterone, oestrogen, testosterone and DHEA)
• Gut health analysis to detect infections, pathogens, leaky gut, dysbiosis or inflammation markers
• Nutrient panels to check levels of magnesium, zinc, B6, iron and more

These tests give a full-body view and help map how your sleep fits into your wider health picture.

What practical tips help you sleep better naturally?

Start by building a routine that supports your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle — but think beyond lavender and eye masks.

• Eat your last meal at least 2–3 hours before bed to reduce blood sugar dips
• Avoid screens and bright lights 1–2 hours before sleep — they suppress melatonin
• Go to bed and wake up at consistent times (even on weekends)
• Incorporate calming rituals: reading, journaling or breathwork
• Get morning sunlight within 30 minutes of waking to anchor your circadian rhythm
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine in the afternoon and evening
• Include slow, stabilising carbs at dinner (like sweet potato or oats)
• Make your room cool, dark and tech-free — and reserve your bed for sleep only

These shifts alone can improve sleep for many — but if you’ve tried it all and still struggle, you’ll likely need to explore deeper imbalances.

How do you work with long-term sleep challenges?

If poor sleep has become your norm, it’s time to move past symptom-masking and into root-cause management. This means understanding why your body can’t rest and fixing that from the inside out.

Long-term support often includes:

• Balancing hormones through targeted supplementation and lifestyle
• Healing the gut to support melatonin production and calm inflammation
• Replenishing depleted nutrients
• Supporting adrenal health with rest, adaptogens, gentle exercise, and nourishment
• Working on blood sugar regulation through meal timing and food quality
• Gradual nervous system support to restore your stress resilience
• Identifying and following your metabolic typing diet

It’s not about one magic fix. It’s about consistent support, tailored to your body.

How do we support long-term sleep repair at home?

At Forbes.health, we don’t just mask symptoms — we look for THE root cause of your sleep problems. Our Functional Medicine Specialists work with you to restore balance across all the systems that affect your sleep.

Everything happens from the comfort of your home:

• Personalised health assessments and advanced lab testing
• Tailored supplementation plans including BHRT based on your data
• Guidance on nutrition, exercise and nervous system support
• Regular check-ins and chat-based support
• Easy-to-understand results and a clear roadmap to follow
• Re-testing when needed to track progress and refine your plan

We focus on long-term healing, not just quick fixes — so you can rest, recover, and finally feel like yourself again.