What is Insomnia?
Insomnia, a common sleep disorder, is a complex condition that involves having difficulties in sleeping patterns, including:
- Sleep-onset insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep.
- Sleep-maintenance insomnia: Difficulty staying asleep at night, or waking up too early.
- Mixed insomnia: Difficulty in both falling asleep and staying asleep at night.
- Paradoxical insomnia: Feeling like you slept less than the actual sleeping time.
Insomnia can be acute, lasting for days or weeks, or chronic, lasting for months or even years. This condition significantly affects a person’s energy, focus during the day, and overall health. (1–4)
Causes of Insomnia
The causes of insomnia can be categorized into two types based on the underlying causes of sleep disturbances.
1. Primary Insomnia
This type of insomnia is not directly related to any other medical issues. It can be a result of the following causes:
– Psychological Factors (Not Related to Medical Conditions)
Stress is the most common cause of insomnia, causing overthinking and preventing falling asleep. For example, stress about a work problem can lead to insomnia. Other psychological factors, such as anxiety, can also significantly affect sleeping and the ability to wake up energized.
– Behavioral Factors
- Consuming a lot of caffeine, especially at night can make it difficult to fall asleep.
- Napping too frequently during the day and having irregular sleep schedules can also lead to insomnia.
- An uncomfortable sleep environment, such as noise, bright light, and improper temperature, does not promote having a good night’s sleep.
- Eating heavy meals in the evenings causes difficulty in falling asleep.
- Jet lag, changing sleeping location, and a new work schedule can affect the circadian rhythm.
– Genetic Factors
Research has proven that having a family history of insomnia increases the likelihood of developing the condition.
2. Secondary Insomnia
Secondary insomnia, more common than primary insomnia, occurs as a result of an underlying medical condition.
– Medical Conditions
Several medical conditions, such as chronic pain, heartburn, arthritis, and asthma, can cause secondary insomnia.
– Mental Health Disorders
Mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorders can develop sleep disturbances.
– Medications
Adverse effects of certain medications can cause secondary insomnia. These medications include hypertension, asthma, and depression drugs.
– Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome (RLS) may develop into secondary insomnia.
Effects of Insomnia on Sleep
Insomnia, primary or secondary, can affect the quality and quantity of sleep, disrupting both the night’s rest and the morning’s energy and function.
1. Reduced Sleep Duration
Insomnia can prevent individuals from having normal hours of sleep, affecting proper functioning. Instead, they waste time trying to fall asleep, regularly waking up, or waking up too early.
2. Poor Sleep Quality
Insomnia can affect sleep quality by preventing individuals from reaching deep sleep stages, where sleep is more restful and restorative. Poor sleep quality causes feelings of fatigue and unproductivity, even if they slept all night long.
3. Daytime Fatigue
The inability to sleep well during the night, reflects on the following morning’s energy, altering concentration, efficient task performance, and productivity. Moreover, insomnia changes a person’s mood, causing irritability and exhaustion.
4. Hormonal Imbalances
The hormonal levels are also affected by insomnia, including:
- Stress hormone (Cortisol): Insomnia can increase cortisol production, leading to weight gain.
- Appetite hormone (Leptin and Ghrelin): These hormones are also stimulated, further leading to weight gain.
