Often Struggle to Sleep? Six Causes of Insomnia to Know

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The body needs good-quality sleep and enough time to rest in order to restore its energy. However, not everyone finds it easy to fall asleep at night.

Recurring difficulty sleeping, or insomnia, can reduce sleep quality and interfere with daily activities. The following factors can disrupt sleep.

Mental health problems

Sleep disorders can be caused by mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression. Excessive worry can keep the mind active at night, preventing the body from relaxing and making it difficult to fall asleep.

Mental health problems can stem from work, school, family or other sources of anxiety. Worrying about not getting enough sleep can also worsen insomnia and create a cycle.

An uncomfortable sleeping environment

Bedroom conditions can affect sleep quality. Make the room as comfortable as possible, with dim lighting and a quiet atmosphere. Close the windows or use an eye mask to reduce light.

The room temperature should also be adjusted so that it is neither too hot nor too cold. An uncomfortable sleeping environment can cause people with insomnia to wake frequently during the night.

Changes to sleeping schedules, such as jet lag, shift work or travelling abroad, can disrupt the body’s biological clock. The body needs time to adjust to these changes. An altered schedule that makes sleep patterns irregular can increase the risk of insomnia.

Medicines and substances

Stanford Medicine explains that some medicines can cause sleep disorders. Examples include antidepressants, cold medicines, steroids and weight-loss drugs. Taking sleeping pills can also affect sleep quality over the long term.

Certain illnesses can cause discomfort that disrupts sleep. A lack of sleep can hinder the body’s recovery process and may worsen these conditions.

Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks can stimulate the brain and keep it alert. Consuming them close to bedtime can worsen sleep quality.

Alcohol may initially make someone feel sleepy, but it can disrupt sleep, causing them to wake frequently during the night.

Nicotine in tobacco is a stimulant that can keep someone awake and make it difficult to fall asleep.

Health problems

Some illnesses can cause insomnia, including asthma, acid reflux, heart disease, obesity, menopause, cancer, chronic pain and breathing disorders.

Symptoms of these conditions may be responsible. They can cause pain or frequent urination, which may wake someone repeatedly during the night.