6 Common Things Which Cause Insomnia
Many millions of people suffer from insomnia and here we look at perhaps the 6 most common causes of this common sleep disorder.
Insomnia is an extremely common sleep disorder which is characterized by interruptions to sleep, shortened sleeping time, restlessness and on occasions by complete wakefulness.
Aside from being very annoying, insomnia can result in sufferers losing their energy and enthusiasm, developing memory and concentration difficulties and feeling lethargic and frustrated. In turn this can lead to a reduction in work productivity and to accidents which may well 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. Possible the most obvious of all forms of substance abuse in relation to insomnia is coffee and other drinks such as tea and colas which contain high levels of caffeine. Another commonly accepted cause is smoking with heavy smokers consuming more than enough nicotine to result in problems sleeping. What is possibly not so well known however is that this list of substances is extensive and even boasts several herbal remedies used for a wide range of diverse problems and which can produce insomnia as a side effect. We should also not forget alcohol. Although it is certainly true that alcohol can frequently make you feel tired at first once it has been metabolized it will also keep you wide awake.
3. The Biological Clock. We all have our own body clock or circadian rhythm which regulates the body’s sleep/wake cycle. If this biological clock is upset by things like staying up all night partying, studying well into the small hours in college or flying off around the world on business or on holiday, then you will inevitably suffer from sleeping problems while your body clock slowly re-adjusts itself.
4. Activities Prior To Going To Bed. There is a list of things that can produce insomnia if they take place close to bedtime and two items at the top of this list are taking exercise shortly before going to bed or eating a big meal shortly before retiring. These particular activities stimulate the body’s metabolism and 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 Difficulties. Nearly everyone suffers from emotional difficulties at times and this can frequently show itself as anxiety or anger. We also often tend to keep our feelings to ourselves instead of seeking an answer for them and this commonly leads to insomnia.
HelpMeToSleep.com provides information on a range of different cures for insomnia and also looks in detail at a number of insomnia causes.
| By Donald Saunders Published: 8/18/2008 |
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