Can changes in my sleep provide an early warning that something is affecting my health?

Changes in sleep timing, awakenings, resting heart rate and sleep quality may appear before noticeable changes in mood, performance or physical health. Sustained patterns can reflect stress, illness, overtraining, mental health changes or possible sleep disorders. Sleep monitoring does not diagnose these conditions, but it can make gradual deviations easier to recognize and identify when rest, reduced workload or professional evaluation may be appropriate.