Insomnia - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions FindoutaboutCOVID-19,COVID-19vaccines,andMayoClinicpatientandvisitorupdates. Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforInsomniaSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCareatMayoClinic Print OverviewInsomniaisacommonsleepdisorderthatcanmakeithardtofallasleep,hardtostayasleep,orcauseyoutowakeuptooearlyandnotbeabletogetbacktosleep.Youmaystillfeeltiredwhenyouwakeup.Insomniacansapnotonlyyourenergylevelandmoodbutalsoyourhealth,workperformanceandqualityoflife. Howmuchsleepisenoughvariesfrompersontoperson,butmostadultsneedseventoeighthoursanight. Atsomepoint,manyadultsexperienceshort-term(acute)insomnia,whichlastsfordaysorweeks.It'susuallytheresultofstressoratraumaticevent.Butsomepeoplehavelong-term(chronic)insomniathatlastsforamonthormore.Insomniamaybetheprimaryproblem,oritmaybeassociatedwithothermedicalconditionsormedications. Youdon'thavetoputupwithsleeplessnights.Simplechangesinyourdailyhabitscanoftenhelp.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicBookofHomeRemediesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsInsomniasymptomsmayinclude: Difficultyfallingasleepatnight Wakingupduringthenight Wakinguptooearly Notfeelingwell-restedafteranight'ssleep Daytimetirednessorsleepiness Irritability,depressionoranxiety Difficultypayingattention,focusingontasksorremembering Increasederrorsoraccidents Ongoingworriesaboutsleep Whentoseeadoctor Ifinsomniamakesithardforyoutofunctionduringtheday,seeyourdoctortoidentifythecauseofyoursleepproblemandhowitcanbetreated.Ifyourdoctorthinksyoucouldhaveasleepdisorder,youmightbereferredtoasleepcenterforspecialtesting.   Thereisaproblemwith informationsubmittedforthisrequest.Review/updatethe informationhighlightedbelowandresubmittheform. 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Sorrysomethingwentwrongwithyoursubscription Please,tryagaininacoupleofminutes Retry RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesInsomniamaybetheprimaryproblem,oritmaybeassociatedwithotherconditions. Chronicinsomniaisusuallyaresultofstress,lifeeventsorhabitsthatdisruptsleep.Treatingtheunderlyingcausecanresolvetheinsomnia,butsometimesitcanlastforyears. Commoncausesofchronicinsomniainclude: Stress.Concernsaboutwork,school,health,financesorfamilycankeepyourmindactiveatnight,makingitdifficulttosleep.Stressfullifeeventsortrauma—suchasthedeathorillnessofalovedone,divorce,orajobloss—alsomayleadtoinsomnia. Travelorworkschedule.Yourcircadianrhythmsactasaninternalclock,guidingsuchthingsasyoursleep-wakecycle,metabolismandbodytemperature.Disruptingyourbody'scircadianrhythmscanleadtoinsomnia.Causesincludejetlagfromtravelingacrossmultipletimezones,workingalateorearlyshift,orfrequentlychangingshifts. Poorsleephabits.Poorsleephabitsincludeanirregularbedtimeschedule,naps,stimulatingactivitiesbeforebed,anuncomfortablesleepenvironment,andusingyourbedforwork,eatingorwatchingTV.Computers,TVs,videogames,smartphonesorotherscreensjustbeforebedcaninterferewithyoursleepcycle. Eatingtoomuchlateintheevening.HavingalightsnackbeforebedtimeisOK,buteatingtoomuchmaycauseyoutofeelphysicallyuncomfortablewhilelyingdown.Manypeoplealsoexperienceheartburn,abackflowofacidandfoodfromthestomachintotheesophagusaftereating,whichmaykeepyouawake. Chronicinsomniamayalsobeassociatedwithmedicalconditionsortheuseofcertaindrugs.Treatingthemedicalconditionmayhelpimprovesleep,buttheinsomniamaypersistafterthemedicalconditionimproves. Additionalcommoncausesofinsomniainclude: Mentalhealthdisorders.Anxietydisorders,suchaspost-traumaticstressdisorder,maydisruptyoursleep.Awakeningtooearlycanbeasignofdepression.Insomniaoftenoccurswithothermentalhealthdisordersaswell. Medications.Manyprescriptiondrugscaninterferewithsleep,suchascertainantidepressantsandmedicationsforasthmaorbloodpressure.Manyover-the-countermedications—suchassomepainmedications,allergyandcoldmedications,andweight-lossproducts—containcaffeineandotherstimulantsthatcandisruptsleep. Medicalconditions.Examplesofconditionslinkedwithinsomniaincludechronicpain,cancer,diabetes,heartdisease,asthma,gastroesophagealrefluxdisease(GERD),overactivethyroid,Parkinson'sdiseaseandAlzheimer'sdisease. Sleep-relateddisorders.Sleepapneacausesyoutostopbreathingperiodicallythroughoutthenight,interruptingyoursleep.Restlesslegssyndromecausesunpleasantsensationsinyourlegsandanalmostirresistibledesiretomovethem,whichmaypreventyoufromfallingasleep. Caffeine,nicotineandalcohol.Coffee,tea,colaandothercaffeinateddrinksarestimulants.Drinkingtheminthelateafternoonoreveningcankeepyoufromfallingasleepatnight.Nicotineintobaccoproductsisanotherstimulantthatcaninterferewithsleep.Alcoholmayhelpyoufallasleep,butitpreventsdeeperstagesofsleepandoftencausesawakeninginthemiddleofthenight. Insomniaandaging Insomniabecomesmorecommonwithage.Asyougetolder,youmayexperience: Changesinsleeppatterns.Sleepoftenbecomeslessrestfulasyouage,sonoiseorotherchangesinyourenvironmentaremorelikelytowakeyou.Withage,yourinternalclockoftenadvances,soyougettiredearlierintheeveningandwakeupearlierinthemorning.Butolderpeoplegenerallystillneedthesameamountofsleepasyoungerpeopledo. Changesinactivity.Youmaybelessphysicallyorsociallyactive.Alackofactivitycaninterferewithagoodnight'ssleep.Also,thelessactiveyouare,themorelikelyyoumaybetotakeadailynap,whichcaninterferewithsleepatnight. Changesinhealth.Chronicpainfromconditionssuchasarthritisorbackproblemsaswellasdepressionoranxietycaninterferewithsleep.Issuesthatincreasetheneedtourinateduringthenight―suchasprostateorbladderproblems―candisruptsleep.Sleepapneaandrestlesslegssyndromebecomemorecommonwithage. Moremedications.Olderpeopletypicallyusemoreprescriptiondrugsthanyoungerpeopledo,whichincreasesthechanceofinsomniaassociatedwithmedications. Insomniainchildrenandteens Sleepproblemsmaybeaconcernforchildrenandteenagersaswell.However,somechildrenandteenssimplyhavetroublegettingtosleeporresistaregularbedtimebecausetheirinternalclocksaremoredelayed.Theywanttogotobedlaterandsleeplaterinthemorning. RiskfactorsNearlyeveryonehasanoccasionalsleeplessnight.Butyourriskofinsomniaisgreaterif: You'reawoman.Hormonalshiftsduringthemenstrualcycleandinmenopausemayplayarole.Duringmenopause,nightsweatsandhotflashesoftendisruptsleep.Insomniaisalsocommonwithpregnancy. You'reoverage60.Becauseofchangesinsleeppatternsandhealth,insomniaincreaseswithage. Youhaveamentalhealthdisorderorphysicalhealthcondition.Manyissuesthatimpactyourmentalorphysicalhealthcandisruptsleep. You'reunderalotofstress.Stressfultimesandeventscancausetemporaryinsomnia.Andmajororlong-lastingstresscanleadtochronicinsomnia. Youdon'thavearegularschedule.Forexample,changingshiftsatworkortravelingcandisruptyoursleep-wakecycle. ComplicationsSleepisasimportanttoyourhealthasahealthydietandregularphysicalactivity.Whateveryourreasonforsleeploss,insomniacanaffectyoubothmentallyandphysically.Peoplewithinsomniareportalowerqualityoflifecomparedwithpeoplewhoaresleepingwell. Complicationsofinsomniamayinclude: Lowerperformanceonthejoboratschool Slowedreactiontimewhiledrivingandahigherriskofaccidents Mentalhealthdisorders,suchasdepression,ananxietydisorderorsubstanceabuse Increasedriskandseverityoflong-termdiseasesorconditions,suchashighbloodpressureandheartdisease MoreInformationInsomniacareatMayoClinicLackofsleep:Canitmakeyousick? PreventionGoodsleephabitscanhelppreventinsomniaandpromotesoundsleep: Keepyourbedtimeandwaketimeconsistentfromdaytoday,includingweekends. Stayactive—regularactivityhelpspromoteagoodnight'ssleep. Checkyourmedicationstoseeiftheymaycontributetoinsomnia. Avoidorlimitnaps. Avoidorlimitcaffeineandalcohol,anddon'tusenicotine. Avoidlargemealsandbeveragesbeforebedtime. Makeyourbedroomcomfortableforsleepandonlyuseitforsexorsleep. Createarelaxingbedtimeritual,suchastakingawarmbath,readingorlisteningtosoftmusic. ByMayoClinicStaff InsomniacareatMayoClinic RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment Oct.15,2016 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Riggin,EA.AllscriptsEPSi.MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.July21,2016. Whatisinsomnia?NationalHeart,Lung,andBloodInstitute.https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/inso#.AccessedSept.6,2016. Insomniafactsheet.WomensHealth.gov.http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/insomnia.html.AccessedSept.6,2016. Sleep-wakedisorders.In:DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisordersDSM-5.5thed.Arlington,Va.:AmericanPsychiatricAssociation;2013.http://www.psychiatryonline.org.AccessedSept.6,2016. Sleepdisorders:Theconnectionbetweensleepandmentalhealth.NationalAllianceonMentalHealth.http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Related-Conditions/Sleep-Disorders.AccessedSept.6,2016. Approachtothepatientwithsleeporwakefulnessdisorder.MerckManualProfessionalVersion.http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/sleep-and-wakefulness-disorders/approach-to-the-patient-with-a-sleep-or-wakefulness-disorder.AccessedSept.6,2016. Insomnia.NaturalMedicines.https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/medical-conditions/i/insomnia.aspx.AccessedSept.6,2016. Sleepandaging.NationalInstituteonAging.https://nihseniorhealth.gov/sleepandaging/aboutsleep/01.html.AccessedSept.6,2016. KligerB,etal.Complementary/integrativetherapiesthatwork:Areviewoftheevidence.AmericanFamilyPhysician.2016;94:369. BonnetMH,etal.Clinicalfeaturesanddiagnosisofinsomnia.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedSept.6,2016. BonnetMH,etal,Treatmentofinsomnia.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedSept.6,2016. CassoffJ,etal.EvaluatingtheeffectivenessoftheMotivatingTeensToSleepMoreprograminadvancingbedtimeinadolescents:Arandomizedcontroltrial.BMCPsychology.2014;2:6. Valerian.NaturalMedicines.https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com.AccessedSept.12,2016. AboutAASMaccreditedfacilities.AmericanAcademyofSleepMedicine.http://www.aasmnet.org/aboutmembercenters.aspx.AccessedSept.15,2016. BuysseDJ.Insomnia.JAMA.2013;309:706. OlsonEJ(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Sept.20,2016. SateiaM.Chronicinsomniadisorder.In:InternationalClassificationofSleepDisorders.3rded.Darien,Ill.:AmericanAcademyofSleepMedicine;2014.http://www.aasmnet.org/EBooks/ICSD3.AccessedSept.20,2016. Related Ambien:Isdependenceaconcern? Insomniatreatment:Cognitivebehavioraltherapyinsteadofsleepingpills Insomnia:HowdoIstayasleep? Lackofsleep:Canitmakeyousick? Prescriptionsleepingpills:What'srightforyou? Valerian:Asafeandeffectiveherbalsleepaid? 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