Anyone who has ever tossed and turned at night will know how frustrating and debilitating lack of sleep can be. There are many causes of insomnia, some of which you can easily modify and control, and others which will be more difficult to manage.
Medical causes of insomnia
If physical or medical conditions are causing your insomnia, there may be little you can do to control your sleep. Physical pain, which may be due to an operation or other medical condition, is a common cause of insomnia. Conditions such as kidney disease or menopause, which alter your hormonal levels, may cause you to lie awake at night. For women, the hormonal changes associated with pregnancy or menstruation can be responsible for your inability to sleep.
Certain psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorders, can also mean that you will have trouble resting. Similarly, depression can adversely affect your sleep quality. As you age, your sleep quality will deteriorate, due to changes in the amount of physical and social activities you perform. Aging invokes changes in hormonal levels, and is associated with other medical conditions, both of which may make it harder to sleep.
Mental causes of insomnia
Unsurprisingly, your mental outlook can affect your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Often, sleep difficulties stem from having too much on your mind and from your inability to put troublesome thoughts aside and relax. If you are worried about not being able to sleep, you may fall into a vicious circle – worrying about sleep makes it harder to sleep, which makes you worry more and so on.
Nutritional causes of insomnia
Certain types of food and drink can also lead to insomnia. The caffeine contained in tea, coffee, colas and chocolate may be the cause of your insomnia. Herbal supplements that boost your energy, or the use of recreational drugs may also make it difficult to sleep. Prescription drugs which include anti-histamines can induce light sleep, but make it difficult to achieve the deep sleep that revitalizes your body. Likewise, other prescription medications contain caffeine which can cause insomnia. If your insomnia is persistent you treat it with prescription sleeping tablets, you may also find it difficult to sleep because you have developed a tolerance of these tablets.
Environmental causes of insomnia
Too much noise or light can often lead to insomnia. Sleeping in a room that is too hot or too cold will make you uncomfortable and disturb your sleep. Further, an uncomfortable bed will rob you of precious sleep. If you have a partner who suffers from a sleep condition, such as sleep apnea, or who sleeps restlessly or snores loudly, your chances of getting a good night’s sleep are also reduced.
Insomnia that persists for weeks or months at a time is unhealthy and debilitating. In such cases, you may need to visit a sleep research center to determine why you are finding sleep difficult. Such centers can monitor your brain activity, in particular your hypothalamus, to understand your insomnia. This information can be used to find a treatment that will help you fall asleep and stay asleep.