Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that makes it extremely difficult to fall asleep. Sometimes, it might even cause people to wake up very early and prevent them from going back to sleep. Patients who have Insomnia feel very tired while waking up from their slumber.
Insomnia causes a probability of sapping both mood and energy level, health, quality of life, and work performance. Adults require a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep every night to function properly. However, the sleep schedule and timing might significantly differ from person to person.
Who is Vulnerable to Insomnia?
In most cases, adults can experience acute Insomnia, which usually lasts for a few days or weeks. This usually results from any traumatic event or stress from work and life. Besides, adults might also face chronic Insomnia, which generally lasts for more than a month or even for a lifetime.
Nevertheless, Insomnia might lead to other health issues, which might require medical attention. People can quickly resolve this sleeping disorder by inflicting changes within their regular lifestyle.
What are the Symptoms of Insomnia?
The primary symptom of Insomnia is sleep irregularities and disorder. Other symptoms of Insomnia include:
- Wake up suddenly during nighttime.
- Having difficulty falling asleep in the nighttime.
- Felt unrest even after sleeping for an entire night.
- Waking up too early in the morning.
- Facing difficulty in remembering, paying attention, and focusing on tasks.
- Feeling tired and sleepy during the daytime.
- Facing troubles and ongoing worries about sleep.
- Feeling depressed, irritated and anxious.
All the symptoms mentioned earlier can significantly impact people’s mental and physical health. So it has greater chances of making things function correctly during the daytime. Thus, it is always recommended to consult with a doctor or physician for identifying the root cause of sleep disorder.
What are the Causes of Insomnia?
Insomnia may or may not be associated with other health disorders and conditions. In most cases, insomnia results from habits, stress, life events, etc., which causes sleep disruption. Sometimes, treating the underlying cause can efficiently resolve Insomnia, but it can also last for years.
Some of the common causes of Insomnia include:
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Stress
Stress can be induced by education, work, finances, health or even family. So this keeps the mind of people active during the nighttime, making them think about various things together. This results in sleep disruptions and makes it difficult to sleep at night. In some cases, any stressful life events or trauma might also lead to Insomnia.
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Poor Sleeping Habits
Some people have irregular bedtime schedules, which promotes poor sleeping habits. Sometimes, performing stimulating activities before bedtime and watching television might interfere with the sleep cycle.
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Hectic Work and Travel Schedule
The circadian rhythms of people work as the internal clock, which deliberately guides the body’s functionalities. It helps maintain the metabolism, sleep-wake cycle, body temperature, etc. But causing significant disruptions to the circadian rhythms can lead to acute Insomnia.
People traveling across numerous time zones, frequently changing shifts, and working late or early shifts might also cause Insomnia.
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Consuming Meals in Improper Times
It is advised to follow a healthy diet and consume them at the right time. Some people consume light snacks just before going to bed. This might cause trouble as people might feel uncomfortable and also experience heartburn.
It becomes tough to sleep right after consuming food. Because the backflow of acid along with the food from the stomach gets inside the oesophagus. This causes difficulty in sleeping, thereby keeping people awake late at night.
Some other causes of Insomnia include:
- Some prescription medicines have the probability of interfering with sleep.
- Mental health disorders can disrupt the sleep schedule.
- Severe medical conditions like asthma, cancer, GERD, Parkinson’s disease, etc., can affect sleep.
- Sleep apnea interferes with breathing periodically, thereby interrupting sleep.
- Consumption of excessive alcohol, caffeine and nicotine might disrupt sleep.
What are the Risk Factors for Insomnia?
Occasional sleepless nights are not always troublesome, but there are more significant risks for essential factors. They are:
- Insomnia is primarily prevalent in women because of periodical hormonal shifts, menopause, pregnancy, etc.
- People over the age of 60 have greater chances of increasing Insomnia.
- Stressful events can cause acute or chronic Insomnia.
- Physical health affects mental health and causes sleep disruptions.
- Irregular working schedules can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle.
What are the Preventive Measures for Insomnia?
Enhanced sleeping habits can prevent Insomnia and promote sound sleep. Some of the other preventive measures for Insomnia are:
- Having a well-maintained bedtime schedule.
- Avoid large meals and beverages before bedtime.
- Keeping to a normal active lifestyle.
- Limiting the consumption of alcohol and nicotine.
To Conclude
Insomnia has greater chances of promoting other chronic health issues. So people who have Insomnia must pledge to change their lifestyle. And it is also advisable to reach out to physicians of Apollo Hospitals for help.
