Symptoms & complaints
Sleep problems and your blood
Poor sleep is often related to lifestyle, stress and sleep habits. Yet physical factors can also play a role. Blood testing can reveal a number of those factors.
Physical factors you can measure
Iron deficiency (low ferritin) is linked to restless legs and poor sleep. An overactive thyroid can cause restlessness, a lack of vitamin D may play a role, and the stress hormone cortisol can affect night-time rest. An abnormal value does not always explain the sleep complaint, and good sleep is primarily a matter of sleep hygiene.
When testing is useful
With persistent sleep problems, especially combined with daytime fatigue or restless legs, targeted blood testing can reveal treatable factors. For severe or long-lasting sleep complaints, a visit to the GP remains important.
Relevant blood values
Frequently asked questions
Which blood values relate to sleep problems?
Often relevant are iron/ferritin, vitamin D, thyroid function and sometimes cortisol. Which ones are useful depends on your situation.
Does blood testing solve my sleep problem?
Blood testing reveals possible physical factors. Good sleep mainly depends on sleep habits and lifestyle; discuss persistent complaints with a doctor.
Do I need to fast?
For these markers fasting is usually not needed. For cortisol the time of sampling does matter.
Sources
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