Insomnia is an extremely common sleep disorder which is characterized by interruptions to sleep, shortened sleeping time, restlessness and on occasions by complete wakefulness.
Apart from being extremely annoying, insomnia can cause sufferers to lose their energy and enthusiasm, develop memory and concentration problems and to feel lethargic and frustrated. This in turn can lead to a drop in work productivity and also to accidents which can have serious consequences.
There are a host of different things that can cause insomnia but here look at just 6 which are commonly linked to this sleep disorder:
1. Environmental Factors. Our environment is very important when it comes to sleep and things like noise, light or extremes of temperature can lead to insomnia.
2. Substance Abuse. The most obvious form of substance abuse when talking about insomnia is coffee, together with other drinks which are high in caffeine. Smoking too might fall into this category as heavy or chain smokers consume more than sufficient quantities of nicotine to cause problems sleeping. However, what is perhaps less well known is that this list of substances is fairly long and even includes many herbal remedies which are taken for a range of different problems and which can cause insomnia as a side effect. Finally, we must not forget alcohol. Although alcohol can often induce tiredness initially once it is metabolized it too can keep you wide awake.
3. The Body Clock. We all have our own body clock or biological clock which works to regulate the sleep/wake cycle. If this body clock is upset by things like partying all night, burning the midnight oil studying in college or jet setting around the world on holiday or for business, then you will experience sleeping difficulties while your body clock re-adjusts.
4. Activities Prior To Bedtime. There are a number of things which can lead to insomnia if they happen within a reasonably short time of going to bed. Two of the most common are taking vigorous exercise shortly before retiring or eating a large meal when you are just about to go to bed. Both of these activities stimulate the body’s metabolism and thus keep you awake.
5. Health Problems. There are a large number of health problems that are known to induce insomnia including heart failure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, ulcers, and Parkinson’s disease. Asthma is also being seen more and more as a cause of insomnia, as is the need for frequent urination, heartburn and chronic pain resulting from things like arthritis and leg cramps. The list of medical conditions which can cause insomnia is very long and also includes other types of sleep disorder such as sleep apnea as well as a range of psychiatric conditions.
6. Emotional Distress. We all suffer from emotional distress from time to time and this can often lead to us becoming anxious or angry. However, when we bottle our feeling up inside ourselves rather than talking about them and seeking a solution for them then this frequently results in insomnia.