Causes of Insomnia
What Causes Insomnia?
Why you may suffer from Insomnia
The Causes of Insomnia are several and varied. It is said that women are more likely to suffer from insomnia and that this is related in some way to the hormonal changes they experience. Among the possible causes of insomnia noted are modern sedentary lifestyles, medical factors, side-effects of various medications, and the consequences of aging. Insomnia may even be attributable to a combination of factors. The causes of insomnia are discussed here and it is noted that this Sleep Disorder may be classified as transient (intermittent), or persistent (chronic or permanent), if it is experienced for more than a few nights.
Further known causes of insomnia of the transient or intermittent type are noise, too much light, anxiety, stress, jet-lag, shift-work, even seasonal change or a snoring partner. The inability to sleep may even be a matter of habit.
The definition of what constitutes insomnia is subjective. One definition has it that the failure to sleep normally for the time required by the body is insomnia, but since each body is different so is the meaning of ‘normally’. One person’s regular sleep may be another’s insomnia.
Generally speaking transient insomnia is not treated by means of medication. By definition it is temporary, and will rectify itself, or the sufferer may take action to ameliorate any environmental causes of insomnia.
More serious in nature is permanent or chronic insomnia. A sufferer should consult a general practitioner or other suitably qualified health professional, who will seek to reveal the underlying Causes of Insomnia. It is perhaps stating the obvious but not all chronic insomnia is equally severe in its impact. Some sufferers may need to do little more than modify their behavior by, for example, abstaining from coffee (or other caffeine sources) or alcohol in the hours before retiring for the night.
Beyond those already mentioned, the causes of insomnia classified as chronic can include drug use and psychological issues such as depression, stress or anxiety. Some medical conditions may be seen as possible causes and could include asthma, other respiratory conditions, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, renal and cardiac conditions.
In the light of the above it will be understood that a health professional may have to undertake a number of tests and examinations of an insomniac to determine the causal factors to be addressed if the insomnia is to be treated successfully. Treatments of insomnia may be by means of behavior modification or prescribed medication. Questionnaires and sleep logs or diaries may be among the means used to weigh up the probable/possible Causes of Insomnia.
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