What Causes Insomnia?

What Causes Insomnia?

Around one in three adults will experience occasional bouts of insomnia that last a few days, and 1 out of 10 suffers from chronic insomnia (prolonged difficulty sleeping). Acute insomnia usually resolves on its own within a few nights, but chronic insomnia may persist for up to one month or more.

If you are struggling to fall or stay asleep, it could be due to an issue with your sleeping habits. It’s essential that you get adequate rest for optimal health and wellbeing – getting good quality sleep will do wonders for both!

Improve your sleep by setting a consistent schedule for bed and wake-up times each day, abstaining from caffeine and alcohol after 6pm, and not using electronic devices within an hour before bedtime. These simple measures can be a great place to start when trying to improve sleep quality.

If you’re dealing with pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia or cancer, it could interfere with your sleep patterns. Or you could have PTSD from a traumatic event which prevents you from getting restful sleep.

Older adults frequently struggle with insomnia due to changes in their circadian rhythm. They’re less likely to keep a regular nightly schedule and may spend more time watching TV, reading or talking on the phone in the evenings.

If you’re having difficulty sleeping, reach out to your doctor. They can identify the source of your issue and recommend a treatment that works for you.