Poor sleep can also trigger or worsen other health conditions, creating a complex chain of cause-and-effect for insomnia. On a holistic level, insomnia is believed to be caused by a state of hyperarousal that disrupts falling asleep or staying asleep. Hyperarousal can be both mental and physical, and it can be triggered by a range of circumstances and health issues. Stress can provoke a profound reaction in the body that poses a challenge to quality sleep. This stress response can come from work, school, and social relationships.
Exposure to traumatic situations can create chronic stress, including post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. The inability to sleep may itself become a source of stress, making it increasingly harder to break the cycle of stress and insomnia.
Researchers believe that some individuals are more vulnerable to stress-induced sleeping problems. In reality, many people have sleep schedules that cause misalignment of their circadian rhythm. Two well-known examples are jet lag and shift work. Shift work requires a person to work through the night and sleep during the day. Both can give rise to a disrupted circadian rhythm and insomnia. In some people, circadian rhythms can be shifted forward or backward without a clear cause, resulting in persistent difficulties in sleep timing and overall sleep quality.
Though often overlooked, choices about your diet can play a role in sleeping problems like insomnia. Caffeine is a stimulant that can stay in your system for hours, making it harder to get to sleep and potentially contributing to insomnia when used in the afternoon and evening. Nicotine is another stimulant that can negatively affect sleep. Alcohol , which is a sedative that can make you feel sleepy, can actually worsen your sleep by disturbing your sleep cycle and causing fragmented, non-restorative sleep.
Eating heavy meals and spicy foods can be hard on your digestive process and have the potential to generate sleeping problems when consumed later in the evening.
Mental health conditions like anxiety , depression , and bipolar disorder frequently give rise to serious sleeping problems. These conditions can incite pervasive negative thoughts and mental hyperarousal that disturbs sleep. In addition, studies indicate that insomnia can exacerbate mood and anxiety disorders , making symptoms worse and even increasing the risk of suicide in people with depression.
Almost any condition that causes pain can disrupt sleep by making it harder to lie comfortably in bed. Dwelling on pain when sleepless in bed may amplify it, increasing stress and sleeping problems. Health complications related to Type II diabetes can be part of an underlying cause of insomnia. Pain from peripheral neuropathy, more frequent need for hydration and urination, and rapid blood sugar changes can interrupt sleep.
There is also a correlation between diabetes and other health conditions that are known to interfere with sleep including obstructive sleep apnea OSA and depression. Other types of physical illness, including those affecting the respiratory or nervous system, may pose challenges to sleep that can culminate in short-term or chronic insomnia. Sleeping problems and insomnia can be side effects of many types of medications.
Examples include blood pressure drugs, anti-asthma medications, and antidepressants. PMS and Insomnia. Problems affecting the brain, including neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, have been found to be associated with an elevated risk of insomnia. Nighttime confusion can further worsen sleep quality. Specific sleep disorders can be a cause of insomnia. Abnormal behaviors during sleep , known as parasomnias, can interfere with sleep.
Some well-known examples of parasomnias include sleepwalking , nightmares , and sleep paralysis. As in people of a younger age, stress, physical ailments, mental health problems, and poor sleep habits can cause insomnia in the elderly.
However, elderly people are often more sensitive to these causes because of higher levels of chronic health conditions, social isolation, and an increased use of multiple prescription drugs that may affect sleep. Research indicates that people over age 60 have less sleep efficiency. They spend less time in deep sleep and REM sleep, which makes it easier for their sleep to be disturbed.
A decrease in daylight exposure and reduced environmental cues for sleep and wakefulness can affect circadian rhythm, especially for elderly people in managed care settings. Insomnia has been estimated to affect up to Teens may be especially susceptible to overscheduling and stress from school, work, and social obligations. Teens also have high rates of using electronic devices in their bedroom.
Each of these factors contributes to a high rate of insomnia during adolescence. Multiple factors can cause insomnia during pregnancy :. Studies have found that more than half of pregnant women report sleeping problems consistent with insomnia. In the first trimester, pregnant women frequently sleep more total hours, but the quality of their sleep decreases. After the first trimester, total sleep time decreases, with the most significant sleeping problems occurring during the third trimester.
Eric Suni has over a decade of experience as a science writer and was previously an information specialist for the National Cancer Institute.
He is board-certified in psychiatry as well as sleep medicine. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by a persistent difficulty to fall or remain asleep despite the opportunity to…. Sleep problems can affect anyone, but women are more likely to experience insomnia than men. Poor sleep can provoke daytime…. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website.
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Insomnia is a sleep disorder that regularly affects millions of people worldwide. Someone with insomnia finds it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , adults need at least 7—9 hours of sleep in every hour period, depending on their age. Short-term insomnia can lead to daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and other problems. In the long term, it may increase the risk of various diseases.
This article looks at what insomnia is, as well as its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. A person with insomnia has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. They may consistently wake up too early. In addition, insomnia may play a role in the development of chronic diseases, such as:.
Insomnia can result from a range of physical and psychological factors. Often, the cause is a temporary problem, such as short-term stress.
In some other instances, insomnia stems from an underlying medical condition. In some people, stress or a mental health issue is responsible for insomnia. A person may be experiencing:. Often, symptoms of another health issue or natural transition cause difficulty sleeping. During menopause , for example, hormonal changes can lead to night sweats , which can interrupt sleep. Also, some people have a rare genetic disorder called fatal familial insomnia , which prevents sleep and can be life threatening.
Research suggests that using devices with screens before bed can cause a loss of sleep in young people. These devices can also harm sleep patterns in adults. Maintenance insomnia can be caused by mental health conditions, such as depression. Other medical conditions that can cause you to wake up include:. Behavioral insomnia of childhood BIC affects approximately 25 percent of children.
BIC can usually be resolved with a few behavioral changes, such as creating a healthy sleep routine or learning self-soothing or relaxation techniques. Insomnia can cause a number of risks and side effects that affect your mental and physical health and impact your ability to function. You may be able to treat acute insomnia at home with an over-the-counter sleep aid or by managing your stress.
A doctor may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia CBT-I , which has proven to be more effective than medication. Diagnosing insomnia may include a physical examination and a review of your medical history to check for signs of an underlying condition. You may also be asked to track your sleep patterns and symptoms in a sleep diary. A doctor may refer you for a sleep study to check for other sleep disorders. See a doctor if insomnia is making it hard for you to function during the day or if it lasts more than a couple weeks.
A doctor can help determine the cause of your insomnia and the most effective way to treat it. Each of the different types of insomnia can interfere with your ability to function during the day.
Acute insomnia can usually be treated at home. Left untreated, chronic insomnia can increase your risk of depression and other serious conditions. Having trouble sleeping occasionally is fairly common. Chronic insomnia, though, is a greater cause for concern. Insomnia makes it difficult for you to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both. Get information on risk factors, symptoms, tests, treatments, and home….
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