Stress
Almost one-third of the nation's population suffers from sleep disorders. One of the leading causes of sleepless nights is emotional turmoil like stress.
Job interviews, finances, closing on a house or getting married are just a few things that can make our brains work overtime. And our brains don't stop working just because our bodies are tired. Plus, when we don’t get our necessary amount of sleep it tends to make the stress factors in our lives more difficult to deal with, making them seem much worse and in turn causing even more stress. That’s why during taxing times, sleep is often more important than ever.
Disruption of Circadian Rhythm
All living creatures live by a circadian rhythm, which is much like an internal clock.
When this rhythm is interrupted, it confuses our mind and body resulting in a disruption of our sleeping patterns. Working long night hours, pregnancy and traveling long distances and across time zones (jet lag) are common events that may throw off our circadian rhythm.
Sleep Apnea
Although common in more than 18 million Americans,
sleep apnea is considered a more serious contributor to sleeplessness and if gone untreated long enough, can be fatal. Apnea, Latin for “without breath” is actually a breathing condition that leads to sleeplessness. Millions of Americans suffer from this condition caused by the obstruction of the air passage in the back of the throat due to soft tissue, which becomes relaxed. This causes the sufferer to stop breathing momentarily. It’s common for this instance to occur hundreds of times in a given night.
Poor Sleep Hygiene
It goes without saying that many restless nights are caused from just being careless. Drinking caffeinated beverages or eating a large meal before bedtime can often lead to a night of tossing and turning. Being mindful to reserve a couple of hours before bedtime to simply wind down can usually help you fall asleep and, most importantly, sleep soundly throughout the night.
Visit these other pages in our Sleep 101 section for more helpful information on coping with sleeplessness:
