It's easy to tell you're not getting enough sleep, right? You feel tired, and you make up in the night when you should be getting your 40 winks in. However, it's not actually as obvious as that. The quality of your sleep is important, and if you're not getting good sleep, you may not even know it. Here are three signs that you're not getting enough sleep, and what to do about it.

Sleep Is More Important Than You'd Think

Of course, sleep is important. We've all had the odd bout with a sleepless night, and felt the effects the next day. Overtiredness can be rough, even if it is temporary. However, you may find that you're actually getting less sleep than you should be. Sometimes it might be because you don't have a good pillow or need a good mattress.

If this is the case, the signs are less obvious, but they'll be there. The symptoms of chronic tiredness are with you every day, and they'll have an effect on your quality of life.

Three Signs You're Not Getting Enough Sleep

So, what are the three signs you need to be looking out for?

1. Moodiness or crankiness

We've all had off days from time to time, where everything irritates you and you just want to be left alone. If this goes on for a longer period of time though, it's something you want to look into. Mood and sleep and linked, and those living with depression do often report they don't get enough sleep. If you're feeling angrier than normal, or feel that your relationships are suffering, this could be a sign.

2. Your productivity is slipping

Chronic sleep deprivation can have quite a devastating effect on how we process information and perform at work the next day. If you don't sleep well, your productivity will slip and you'll find it much harder to concentrate. If you find that your productivity is slipping, then chronic sleep deprivation could be the reason why.

3. You're putting on weight

There's a lot of reasons why you're putting on weight, but sleep deprivation could be one of them. There have been studies that have linked getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night with reduced levels of leptin, a hormone that suppresses your appetite. This means that you can be much more susceptible to overeating, and even Type 2 Diabetes.

Why You May Not Be Sleeping Well

If you're suffering from any of the issues listed above, it could well be that you're not getting enough sleep at night. If you feel drowsy in the day, even if you think you've had a full night's sleep, this could especially be the case.

So, what's causing your sleep issues? One common but often overlooked reason is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition that affects the way you breath when you sleep. When you sleep, your airway relaxes temporarily, causing a blockage. This can last from anywhere from a few seconds to three minutes, restricting oxygen flow. This means that you could be waking up several times in the night to breathe again. It's no wonder, then, that you're not getting the sleep you need.

How You Can Get Tested For Sleep Apnea

If you have these symptoms and think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, there is a treatment out there that can greatly improve your quality of life. What you can do is go to your doctor and ask or a sleep study. This requires you to go to a lab overnight and get a sleep test, so experts can measure your vitals and diagnose whatever is causing the sleep issues.

While this is very helpful for a lot of people, it's not great for everyone. After all, some people just can't sleep unless they're in their own bed. For others, they may not have the luxury of spending a whole night away from home. Either way, it can be very expensive and you just want to save the cash.

If this is the case for you, a home sleep study could be the right thing for you. Here at VirtuOx, we've developed the technology for you to measure your own sleep right at home.

The equipment consists of one headband that contains all the sensors needed to measure your sleep. It's comfortable and you can use it in your own bed so you can get accurate results that you can then take to your doctor. As well as this, a home sleeping test can be drastically cheaper than going to a lab to have it done.

If you think you have sleep apnea, get in touch. We'll provide you with the equipment to get the diagnosis and treatment that you need, without the hassle. Reclaim your good night's sleep and never suffer with breathing issues again.