What is the main cause of insomnia? Complications of insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that may make it hard to fall hard to stay asleep asleep, or allow you to wake up too early and not have the ability to return to sleep. You may feel tired when you wake up. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood but also your health, work performance and quality of life.

Adults need seven to eight hours, although how much sleep is enough changes from person to person.

Sooner or later, many adults experience short-term (acute) insomnia, which lasts for days or weeks. It's usually the result of a traumatic event or stress. However, some people have long-term (chronic) insomnia that lasts for a month or more. Insomnia may be the problem, or it may be associated with medications or other medical conditions.

You don't have to put up with sleepless nights. Simple changes in your daily habits can help.
Symptoms

Insomnia symptoms may include:

Difficulty falling asleep at night
Waking up during the night
Waking up
Not feeling well-rested after a night's sleep
Daytime tiredness or sleepiness
Irritability, depression or anxiety
Difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks or remembering
Increased errors or accidents
Ongoing worries

When to see a doctor

If insomnia makes it hard for you to work during the day, visit your doctor to identify the cause of your sleep problem and how it can be treated. You might be referred to a rehab center for special testing if your doctor thinks you might have a sleep disorder.
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Causes

Insomnia might be the problem, or it may be associated with other conditions.

Chronic insomnia is a result of stress, life habits or events that disrupt sleep. Treating the underlying cause can solve the insomnia, but it can last for ages.

Common causes of chronic insomnia include:

Stress. Concerns about health, school, work, family or finances can keep your mind active at night, making it hard to sleep. Injury or stressful life events -- such as illness or the death of a loved one, divorce, or a job loss -- also may lead to insomnia.
Travel or work schedule. Your circadian rhythms act directing such things as your cycle, as an internal clock, metabolism and body temperature. Insomnia can be led to by disrupting your body's circadian rhythms. Causes include jet lag from traveling across time zones, working a change, or changing shifts.
Poor sleep habits. Poor sleep habits include an irregular bedtime schedule, naps, stimulating activities before bed and using your bed eating or watching TV. Computers, TVs, video games, smartphones or screens can interfere with your sleep cycle.
Eating too much late in the day. Having a light snack before bedtime is OK, but eating too much may cause you to feel uncomfortable while lying down. Lots of people experience heartburn, a backflow of acid and food from the stomach into the esophagus after eating, which may keep you awake.

Chronic insomnia may also be related to the use of drugs or conditions. Treating the medical condition may help improve sleep, but the insomnia may persist after the medical condition improves.

Common causes of insomnia include:

Mental health disorders. Anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, may disrupt your sleep. Awakening early may be a sign of depression. Insomnia often occurs with other mental health disorders too.
Medications. Many prescription drugs can interfere with sleep, such as certain antidepressants and drugs for asthma or blood pressure. Many medications -- such as cold and allergy medications, some pain drugs, and products -- contain.
Medical conditions. Examples of conditions linked with insomnia include chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), overactive thyroid, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Sleep-related disorders. Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing periodically throughout the night, interrupting your sleep. Restless legs syndrome causes unpleasant sensations in your legs and an almost irresistible urge to move them, which might prevent you from falling asleep.
Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. Tea, coffee, cola and other drinks are stimulants. By drinking them in the afternoon or 8, you can be kept . Nicotine in tobacco products is another stimulant that may interfere with sleep. It prevents deeper stages of sleep and frequently causes waking in the middle of the night, although alcohol may help you fall asleep.

Insomnia and aging

Insomnia becomes more common with age. As you get older, you may encounter:

Changes in sleep patterns. Sleep becomes relaxed as you age, so noise or other changes in your environment are more likely to wake you. With age, your inner clock often advances, so you get tired in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning. As younger folks do, but elderly people still require the same amount of sleep.
Changes in activity. You may be socially active or physically. A lack of activity can interfere with a good night's sleep. Additionally, the less active you are, the more likely you might be to take a nap, which can interfere with sleep at night.
Changes in health. Chronic pain from conditions such as arthritis or back problems in addition to depression or anxiety can interfere with sleep. Such as bladder or prostate problems -- can interrupt sleep. Sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome become more prevalent with age.
More medications. Older people typically use more prescription drugs than younger people do, which increases the chance of insomnia associated with medications.

Insomnia in adolescents and children

Sleep problems may be a concern for children and teens also. Because their clocks are more delayed some children and teenagers simply have trouble getting to sleep or resist a normal bedtime. They wish to go to bed and sleep later in the morning.
Risk factors

Virtually everyone has. But your risk of insomnia is greater if:

You're a woman. Changes during the menstrual cycle and in menopause may play a role. During menopause, hot flashes and night sweats often disrupt sleep. Insomnia is also common with pregnancy.
You are over age 60. Because of changes in sleep patterns and health, insomnia increases with age.
You have health condition or a mental health disorder. Issues that impact your physical or mental health can interrupt sleep.
You are under a lot of stress. Times and events can cause insomnia. And long-term stress or major may result in chronic insomnia.
You do not have a regular schedule. By way of example, traveling or changing shifts at work can disrupt your sleep-wake cycle.

Complications

Sleep is as important to your health as a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Whatever your reason for sleep loss, you can affect both physically and mentally. People with insomnia report a lower quality of life compared with individuals that are sleeping well.

Complications of insomnia may include:

Performance at work or in school
Slowed reaction time a greater risk of accidents and when driving
Mental health disorders, such as depression, substance abuse or an anxiety disorder
Increased risk and seriousness of long-term diseases or conditions, such as hypertension and heart disease

More Information

Insomnia care at Mayo Clinic
Lack of sleep: Can it make you sick?

Prevention

Very good sleep habits can help prevent insomnia and promote sleep:

Maintain your bedtime and wake time consistent from day to day, including weekends.
Stay busy -- regular activity helps promote a great night's sleep.
Check your medications to see if they may result in insomnia.
Prevent or limit naps.
Avoid or limit alcohol and caffeine, and do not use nicotine.
Avoid large meals and drinks before bedtime.
Make your bedroom comfortable for sleep and only use it for sleep or sex.
Create a ritual, like reading, taking a warm bath or listening to music.