Natural-Cures-For-Insomnia

6 Common Causes Of Insomnia

Oct 9, 2008 Insomnia

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.

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. 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
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. 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 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.

These six causes of insomnia are the usually the reasons most of us can't get to sleep. Figuring out which one is causing your sleep problems can help you determine the best course of action.

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Tags: causes of insomnia, Insomnia, sleep disorders, sleep problems, sleeping difficulties