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Insomnia is your body’s way of saying that something isn’t right. Things that may cause insomnia include stress, too much caffeine or stimulants, depression, changes in work shifts, and pain from medical problems, such as arthritis.
Insomnia is the inability to get the amount of sleep you need to wake up feeling rested and refreshed. In short it is not getting enough sleep that your body requires to function normally. Because different people need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is defined by the quality of your sleep you are getting and not by how much, and how you feel when you wake up.
This may be hard to fathom, but even if you’re spending eight hours a night in bed, if you feel drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.
Although insomnia is the most common sleep complaint, it is not a single sleep disorder. Insomnia is better defined as a symptom of another problem. The problem causing the insomnia differs from person to person. It could be something as simple as drinking too much strong coffee during the day or a more complex issue like an underlying medical condition.
But did you know that while you are sleeping, complex chemical interactions are taking place in your body? The amino acid L-tryptophan (found naturally in certain foods) is converted into 5-HTP and is used in the manufacture of a neuro-transmitter in the brain called serotonin. Serotonin, in turn, is transformed into a sleep hormone called melatonin by the pineal gland in the brain.
The pineal gland only becomes active after dark and shuts down in the daylight (one reason why people working night shift may have sleep problems). By regulating levels of melatonin, our bodies create the ‘sleep-wake cycle’ or circadian rhythm.
In reality, the process is a lot more complex than this, and there are many other things that contribute to healthy sleep. The sufficient production of serotonin and melatonin is crucial in promoting and maintaining normal sleep patterns. It is when things become messed up that we need sleep treatment or a Insomnia remedy to help fix the problem.
When You Should See A Doctor
If insomnia or sleeplessness makes it hard for you to function during the day, see your doctor to determine what might be the cause of your sleep problem and how it can be treated. If your doctor thinks you could have another sleep disorder, you might be referred to a sleep center for special testing. If you have a look at some of the causes you may spot the culprit right away…
Causes of Insomnia?
Insomnia most normally stems from other problem, such as a medical condition that causes pain or use of stimulants that interfere with sleep. The most common causes of insomnia include:
Caffeine, Nicotine and Alcohol: Coffee, tea, cola and other caffeine-containing drinks are well-known stimulants. Drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening can keep you from falling asleep at night. Nicotine in tobacco products is another stimulant that can cause insomnia. Alcohol is a sedative that may help get to asleep, but it prevents deeper stages of sleep and can cause you to wake up in the middle of the night.
Stress:
Concerns about work, school, health or family can keep your mind active at night, making it difficult to sleep.
Medical Conditions:
If you have chronic pain, breathing difficulties or need to urinate frequently, you might develop insomnia. Conditions linked with insomnia include arthritis, cancer, congestive heart failure, diabetes, lung disease, gastrointestinal diseases, overactive thyroid, stroke, Parkinson disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Medications:
Prescription drugs that can interfere with sleep include some antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medications, allergy medications, stimulants (such as Ritalin) and corticosteroids. Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including some pain medication combinations, decongestants and weight-loss products, contain caffeine and other stimulants.
Depression: You might either sleep too much or have trouble sleeping if you’re depressed. This may be due to chemical imbalances in your brain or because worries that accompany depression may keep you from relaxing enough to fall asleep. Insomnia is common with mental health disorders as well.
Poor Sleep Habits:
Habits that help promote good sleep are called “sleep hygiene.” Poor sleep hygiene includes an irregular sleep schedule, stimulating activities before bed,an uncomfortable sleep environment and use of your bed for activities other than sleep or sex.
Eating Too Late:
Having a light snack before bedtime is OK, but eating too much may cause you to feel physically uncomfortable while lying down, making it difficult to get to sleep. Many people also experience heartburn, a backflow of acid and food from the stomach to the esophagus after eating.
Change In your environment Or Work Schedule: Travel or working a late or early shift can disrupt your body’s circadian rhythms, making it difficult to sleep. Your circadian rhythms act as internal clocks, guiding such things as your wake-sleep cycle, metabolism and body temperature.

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Tags: enough sleep, Insomnia, stress, Work Schedule