What Causes Sleep Problems?

Symptoms of Sleep Problems/Disorders

While an occasional sleepless night is nothing to be concerned with, a lack of sleep on a regular basis is certainly a problem that must be addressed. Let’s look at some of the telltale signs that you might not be getting enough sleep, or that you might have a sleeping problem or disorder.

• daytime irritability and sleepiness
• difficulty staying awake when watching television or reading
• falling asleep or feeling very fatigued while driving
• difficulty concentrating
• reduced reaction time
• emotional outbursts that you can’t control
• feeling that you need to take a nap almost every day
• relying on caffeine or energy drinks to keep yourself alert

Causes of Sleep Problems

Although the root cause of a sleeping problem differs and is the result of a variety of factors, the end result is the same. A disruption in the body’s natural ability to fall asleep can have a big impact on other areas in life. Factors that can cause sleep problems may be physical (such as ulcers), medical (such as asthma), psychiatric (such as depression), or environmental (such as drug use or alcohol abuse). The main causes of sleeping problems are acute or chronic insomnia, sleep apnea, snoring, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.

Acute or Chronic Insomnia

Sleeping problems that are short term are referred to as acute insomnia. Acute Insomnia is usually caused by the stressors of life – like losing a job or experiencing financial difficulties, changing jobs, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new home. Being ill can also cause acute or short term insomnia, as can light and noise. Long term insomnia or chronic insomnia is characterized by sleeplessness that occurs at least three nights a week for at least a month or longer. Chronic insomnia can be caused by depression, pain, discomfort, and (most commonly, chronic stress).

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a very common disorder that can disrupt sleep; it can also be a serious medical condition that can threaten your life. During periods of sleep apnea, breathing ceases or becomes very shallow; pauses in breathing may last twenty seconds or longer, and these breathing pauses can occur as many as thirty times in an hour. Sufferers of sleep apnea wake up in order to breathe again, which disrupts the sleep.

Snoring

Snoring is a common obstacle on the road to a good night’s sleep – not only for the sleeper but for their partner or spouse as well. Snoring occurs when the airway is narrowed from bad sleeping postures, excessive body weight or even physical abnormalities of the throat. The narrowing of the airway causes breathing to be less smooth and the result is the sound that we associate with snoring. Snoring doesn’t mean that the airway is obstructed (as in sleep apnea) but snoring may accompany sleep apnea.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is fairly common and is often referred to as RLS. RLS is the irresistible urge to move the legs or arms during sleep. Tingling or “creeping” sensations cause the sufferer of RLS to move the affected legs (or sometimes arms). This movement will ease the sensations, but only for a short while. RLS can be a big disturbance during sleep.

Narcolepsy

A less common culprit of a good night’s sleep is narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that may cause the afflicted person to fall asleep without warning. People with narcolepsy are deficient in a brain chemical called hypocretin that works to regulate periods of sleeping and waking. Narcolepsy episodes can occur even after the sleeper has reported getting sufficient sleep.

Other Factors that Affect Sleep

There are other reasons that you might find it difficult to fall asleep. Let’s look at some other common factors that affect sleep.

• Medications. Antidepressant medications, medication to control blood pressure, and most over the counter cold/cough remedies and formulations can interfere with your sleep or cause you to sleep less soundly.
• Lifestyle. Lifestyle factors can have a great deal to do with your ability to sleep well; as an example, people who work at night may develop sleep disorders because their “biological clocks” are off-centered by night shift work.
• Aging. Many older people have difficulty sleeping. Modern science is unsure if this phenomenon is due to the medications that older people are taking, or if insomnia, to some degree, is a normal part of getting older.

If you are experiencing difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep through the night, our articles The Secret to a Good Night’s Sleep and Ways to Fall Asleep: 8 Common Myths are great resources to help you get a better night’s sleep.