Sound Sleep Guide

Insomnia is an extremely common sleep disorder which is characterized by interruptions to sleep, shortened sleeping time, restlessness and on occasions 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 lots of different causes of insomnia but here are just 6 which are commonly seen:

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. 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 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 many different health problems which are known to induce insomnia such as diabetes, heart failure, hyperthyroidism, ulcers, and Parkinson’s disease. Asthma is also increasingly being recognized as a cause of insomnia, as is heartburn, the need for frequent urination and chronic pain resulting from such things as arthritis and leg cramps. The list here is very long indeed and also includes other forms of sleep disorder such as sleep apnea and a range of psychiatric conditions.

6. Emotional Problems. Almost all of us suffer from emotional distress occasionally and this can frequently lead to such things as anxiety or anger. But, if we keep our feelings to ourselves instead of talking about them and seeking a solution to them then this commonly results in insomnia.