Insomnia Causes

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Understanding insomnia causes can help you to overcome this sleep problem. Insomnia is defined as the difficulty of falling asleep or staying asleep. The Mayo Clinic reports between 10 and 15 percent of people report chronic insomnia.

Common Insomnia Causes

Insomnia causes are often other medical conditions, psychological difficulties or poor lifestyle choices. There are several common causes.

  • Stress: Stress can lead to insomnia. The stress may be related to work, school, social lives or stressful events. For example, stress from the death of a loved one or from the loss of a job may keep an individual's mind too active, preventing sleep.
  • Medications: Some medications can cause insomnia, especially antidepressants. Others include allergy medications, heart medications, blood pressure medications, corticosteroids and other stimulants. Some over the counter medications can lead to insomniac symptoms including weight loss products and decongestants that contain stimulants.
  • Medical Conditions: Individuals with health conditions may also experience insomnia symptoms. Conditions such as chronic pain, breathing abnormalities, gastroesophageal reflux disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes and lung disease commonly cause insomnia. Medical conditions such as Parkinson disease, strokes, overactive thyroids, Alzheimer's disease, concern and arthritis may also trigger insomnia. The pain and discomfort from these conditions often makes it difficult to sleep.
  • Stimulating Products: Lifestyle choices often lead to insomnia. Those who consume caffeine regularly, from coffee, tea, soda or other forms are stimulating their bodies, making it difficult for sleep to occur. Nicotine is also a stimulant. Interestingly, alcohol can lead to insomnia, although it is a natural sedative initially. Alcohol makes it difficult for an individual to enter deep levels of sleep.
  • Psychological Causes: Often, insomnia is caused by psychological factors such as anxiety and depression. Anxiety makes an individual more alert and keeps the mind active, leading to insomniac symptoms. Depression can cause some to sleep too much, but some people report the inability to sleep. Treatment of these mental health conditions can improve insomnia. In addition, learned insomnia is a condition in which people worry so much about getting to sleep that they cannot do so. If you try too hard to sleep, you may be unable to do so.

Insomnia and Aging

You may notice that as you get older, sleep gets more difficult. Some people experience insomnia in their later years at increasing levels. Insomnia causes in older individuals can be a number of things.

Seniors and Insomnia Causes

Sleep patterns change as you age. Most people will spend less time in stages 3 and 4 and more time in stages 1 and 2, of the sleep cycle. This means they are sleeping lighter and are unable to get deep sleep. This may be due to changes with the internal clock everyone has. It is important to note that older people need the same amount of sleep as younger people.

Another insomnia cause stems from health. Health conditions are often the cause of anxiety, depression or physical pain, which can lead to the inability to sleep. Older individuals are also more likely to develop restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea. More so, many older people take medications, which could lead to sleep difficulties.

Risk Factors for Developing Insomnia

Some people are more prone to the development of insomnia. Causes include the following:

  • Being over the age of 60 increases your likelihood of developing insomnia.
  • Frequent travelers suffer from difficulty sleeping well.
  • Those who suffer from a mental health disorder may suffer insomnia regularly. This includes bipolar disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.
  • Insomnia causes stem from stress. Those under constant stress are more likely to suffer.
  • Irregular sleepers, such as those who work late nights or do not go to sleep at the same time daily, are often prone to insomnia.

Many of the risk factors for insomnia point to opportunities for avoiding the condition. Reducing stress and improving sleep habits can greatly reduce the chances of developing the condition.