6 Common Causes Of Insomnia
Author: Donald Saunders
Category: Health
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Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders seen today and is characterized by restlessness, frequent sleep interruptions, shorter than normal sleeping time and sometimes 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 many different things which can cause insomnia but here are 6 which are perhaps most commonly seen:
1. The Environment. Our environment is extremely important when it comes to getting a good night's sleep and things like light, noise or extremes of temperature can cause insomnia.
2. Substance Abuse. Perhaps the most obvious form of substance abuse when thinking about insomnia is coffee and other drinks which contain high levels of caffeine. Smoking is another commonly accepted cause with heavy or chain smokers consuming more than enough nicotine to cause problems sleeping. What is perhaps less well known however is that this list of substances is quite long and even contains a number of herbal remedies which are used for a range of problems and which can lead to insomnia as a side effect. Lastly, we should not overlook alcohol. While it is true that alcohol can often make you feel tired initially once it is metabolized it can also keep you wide awake.
3. Disturbance To The Biological Clock. Each of us has our own body clock or circadian rhythm which is controlled in part by light and darkness and which regulates the body's sleep/wake cycle. If this clock is thrown out of balance by things like staying up all night studying in college, partying into the small hours or jetting off around the world on business or for pleasure, then you will suffer from sleeping difficulties while the clock slowly tries to re-adjust itself.
4. Activities Before Going To Bed. There are several things that can lead to insomnia if they take place within a short time of going to bed. Two of the commonest are exercising shortly before retiring or eating a big meal shortly before going to bed. In both cases these activities stimulate your metabolism and keep you awake.
5. Health Problems. There is a long list of health problems which are well known to induce insomnia and this list includes heart failure, diabetes, hyperthyroidism and ulcers. Asthma too is increasingly being seen cause of insomnia, as are such things as the need for frequent visits to the bathroom, heartburn and chronic pain arising out of such conditions as arthritis and leg cramps. There are also other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, which lead to 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.
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Keywords: insomnia, sleep disorders, sleep problems, sleeping difficulties, cause of insomnia
View Count: 45
Date Submitted: 8/13/2008
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