
In the
simplest terms, insomnia is being unable to fall asleep, waking
up far too early and waking up in the middle of the night. It also
includes waking up in the morning still feeling tired and not as fresh.
The body needs sleep as it allows the body and the mind to rejuvenate
themselves. Most people think that when you sleep, the body does not do
anything when in fact, it is busy performing repair and regeneration of
body tissues, organs and hormones. It is definitely not a passive
activity.
In our busy lifestyles, often, we sacrifice getting enough sleep. This
may cause transient insomnia and it can last for several days. This
might
be caused by
stress at
home or work, jet lag, illness or a change in the environment. Once
these
stressful factors are removed, insomnia goes away.
However, chronic insomnia occurs when it last more than three weeks.
The cause may be difficult to eliminate and may include depression,
chronic stress,
excessive caffeine use, alcoholism, smoking, snoring or
sleep apnea and other health conditions.
Intuitively,
most people will know what is insomnia when they experience it. The
rest of this short article will focus on the causes and several other
related articles will provide tips and reveal many natural and
home remedies for treating this
debilitating health condition.
It is
estimated that about 30% of all adults suffer from insomnia once
in awhile. Worst, about 10% experience chronic insomnia that require proper medical treatment.
The amount of
sleep a person needs depends on the individual. Some need at little as
six hours while others need up to nine hours nightly. Experts agree
that getting less than six hours of sleep (for long periods of time) can
lead to various health problems.
There are many
risk factors and direct causes of insomnia. The list below includes most
of all the common causes of insomnia:
Stress - This is
one of the major causes of insomnia in modern society.
Age
- As you age, your will experience more difficulty in falling asleep
than when you were younger.
Gender
- Women tends to suffer from insomnia more than men. This is in part
due to hormonal fluctuation during menopause,
pregnancy and their menstrual cycles.
Lack
of Exercise - A sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk
of suffering from insomnia.
Depression - Those people suffering from depression commonly report that they have trouble falling or staying asleep.
Prescription
Drug Use - Many drugs that are prescribed to control high blood pressure,
depression, high
cholesterol and even chronic use of sleeping pills can cause insomnia.
Non-prescription
Drug Use
- Many over-the-counter cough and cold remedies contain products such
as decongestants that may stimulate the mind and cause insomnia. Check
with your pharmacist first before using any of these types of products.
Smoking
- Nicotine found in tobacco is a stimulant.
Menopause
- Hormonal changes during menopause can cause insomnia.
Overweight
(Obesity) - People who are obese seem to experience
insomnia more often than those who are not.
Existing
Health Problems - Health conditions such as anxiety,
depression, alcohol abuse, bladder problems, indigestion, restless legs
syndrome and
diabetes can trigger insomnia. The medical condition sleep apnea can
cause severe chronic insomnia and requires treatment.
Pain
and General Discomfort - If you suffer from pain of osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis, muscle aches, headaches, lower back pain or
fibromyalgia, sleep might be very difficult.
Jet
Lag - People who travel through different time zones can
experience short-term sleep disturbances.
Shift Work
- Workers who switch between different shifts can experience
disturbances in sleep as the body's internal clock is put "out of
sync".
Sleeping
Habits - Waking up and going to sleep at different times
of the hour is not good for your body and is known to create sleeping
problems.
Bedroom
Environment - Noise and light in the bedroom (or where you
normally sleep) does not help.
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) - Those suffering from RLS common have difficulty sleeping.
Low
Iron
- Studies show that those suffering from restless leg syndrome have
lower levels of iron. Iron supplements may be useful in those suffering
from insomnia due to restless leg syndrome. At least three months of
iron supplements may be needed to see a benefit.
Vitamin
B12 Deficiency - Low levels of B12
vitamin may contribute to insomnia.