Insomnia is a condition in which a person suffers sleeplessness, trouble sleeping, or staying asleep. It can be long-term (chronic) or short-term (acute). It may happen or go away or last for a few days, weeks, or months. A common sleep disorder can adversely affect your mental, emotional, and physical health/well-being. This article will focus on the causes of insomnia, its treatment, and prevention.
Causes of Insomnia
Several reasons can cause insomnia. Sometimes causes are interlinked and can be treated by taking specific preventive measures or adopting a healthy lifestyle. There are two types of insomnia; a) first one is the type that lasts a few days, and it is usually because of a sudden change in daily routine or taking a lot of stress. For example, people face a lack of sleep while traveling. b) While the other type is chronic, in which a person more often faces a lack of sleep which disturbs his ability to do work and affects his creativity. So, the causes of insomnia are usually dependent on its type. Some of the general reasons behind this disorder are as follows:
Other medical conditions:
Different medical conditions and the medication you are using to treat them can cause insomnia. It can be one of the symptoms of some severe medical diseases like Alzheimer’s, overactive thyroid, etc.; people with asthma or some chronic pain often face insomnia. The medication used to treat these diseases can also be a reason behind trouble sleeping as they contain stimulation that causes insomnia.
Drugs and Alcohol:
Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to many diseases, including insomnia, in which a person cannot stay asleep for an extended period and feels restlessness during sleep. It also includes waking up tired. Other drugs high in nicotine and caffeine are also major causes of insomnia if the person is consuming an excessive amount.
Sleep disorders:
Different sleep disorders like restless leg syndrome can cause insomnia in which the patient feels mild pain and tension in the legs muscle during sleep, making it difficult to stay asleep. Other disorders like behavior disorder can cause sleepless nights. It can disturb the sleeping pattern of the patient. Sleep apnea is another condition that makes it difficult for a person to have a healthy sleeping pattern. A patient feels difficulty breathing or becomes breathless while sleeping in this condition. This can become alarming if not appropriately treated.
Stress:
Insomnia is caused by various factors such as stress, depression, and sadness. It can create acute or persistent sleeplessness when you are worried and need a brief reprieve for a specific event. Anxiety and continual stress can lead to chronic insomnia because stress keeps your mind active and makes it difficult to sleep.
Anxiety and mental health issues
Anxiety can induce sleep disturbances in certain people. When the human mind is overly active makes it difficult to fall asleep, and the person feels fatigued. One of the causes of a disturbed sleeping pattern is post-traumatic stress disorder. Due to tension and mental trauma, the patient finds it difficult to fall asleep, and they also have horrible dreams while sleeping, which disrupts their sleep. Treatment for insomnia and sleep deprivation will aid you in resolving trouble falling asleep due to depression. Once anxiety and stress problems are diagnosed, only a trained therapist or medical professional can help you locate therapy regimens and medication to control the issue. Self-medicating for anxiety disorders is not a good idea, and you should only do it under the guidance of a psychiatrist.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Your body reflects your way of life. If you do not eat healthy food at regular intervals, your body will suffer badly. Moreover, a poor sleeping schedule can result in a significant sleeping disorder. As a result, you should keep a close check on your schedule and strive to maintain it as healthy as possible. A lack of physical activity commonly causes insomnia.
Symptoms of Insomnia
Following are the symptoms of insomnia;
- Trouble sleeping
- Getting up so many times during the night
- Feeling exhausted all the time
- Anxiety
- Trouble in focusing
Is insomnia linked to aging?
Insomnia becomes more common with aging. You may encounter the following problem as you get older;
- Sleep becomes restless, and noise or other changes in your surroundings are more likely to wake you up. Your internal clock often advances as you get older, causing you to become weary sooner in the evening and to wake up earlier in the morning. However, elderly adults require the same amount of sleep as younger people.
- It’s possible that you’re not as physically or socially engaged as you once were. A lack of movement can make it difficult to get a decent night’s sleep. Additionally, the less active you are, the more likely you will take a daily nap, which might disrupt your nighttime sleep.
- Sleep can be disrupted by chronic pain from disorders such as arthritis or back difficulties and sadness or anxiety. Sleep can also be disrupted by increasing the desire to urinate during the night, such as prostate or bladder difficulties. Sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome become increasingly common as people get older.
- Prescription drug use is more common in older persons than in younger ones, which raises the risk of medication-related insomnia.
Treatment of Insomnia
Insomnia can be treated in various ways, depending on the type of insomnia and causes of sleep disturbance. Doctors usually treat it with counseling or medication. Likewise, doctors will advise you to adopt certain lifestyle adjustments to manage insomnia, particularly if it is severe.
Prevention of Insomnia
You can prevent insomnia by taking the following steps;
- Make simple alterations to your routine life.
- Maintain a steady sleeping schedule.
- Avoid coffee and follow a balanced diet.
- If you already suffer from sleeplessness, limit your alcohol consumption.
- Make your body fatigued by engaging in physical activity.
- Being active throughout the day can also help you get a good night’s sleep.
- Lastly, make your bedroom as cozy as possible.
References:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-insomnia#treatment retrieved on April 20, 2022.
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167 retrieved on April 20, 2022.
- https://www.scinternalmedicine.com/2020/02/28/5-major-sleep-disorders/ retrieved on April 20, 2022.
- https://www.stress.org/get-rid-of-sleep-anxiety-and-insomnia-your-guide-to-a-better-nights-rest retrieved on April 20, 2022.
