What Is Insomnia?
Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you wake up often during the night? Or, maybe you wake up too early in the morning. You may be suffering from insomnia. Talk to your health care provider if it lasts longer than a few weeks and you feel tired most of the time.
What Causes Insomnia?
Some common causes of insomnia are:
Medical problems, such as pain, depression, medication side effects, or trouble breathing
Circadian rhythm disorder, a shift in the body’s normal 24-hour activity cycle
Lifestyle factors, such as a changing sleep schedule, traveling across 3 or more time zones, lack of exercise, or too much caffeine
Sleep settings, such as a poor mattress, noise, or a room that’s too hot or too cold
Stress, such as problems at work, money worries, or family events
Talk to Your Health Care Provider
Describe your sleeping problems to your health care provider. Try to keep a daily sleep diary for a week or 2. Write down the time you go to bed, the time you wake up, and anything that seems to affect your sleep. Your health care provider can work with you to develop a treatment plan. You may need to learn good sleeping habits and make some lifestyle changes. If you have any medical problems, these may need to be treated first.