Sleep is critically important for your mental and physical health. It is recommended that adults get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. The quality of your sleep is also important. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make sleep difficult. It can impact your ability to fall and stay asleep, which can impact both the quality and quantity of your sleep. Below you will find illnesses that can cause insomnia and what treatment options are available to address the issue.
Illnesses That Can Cause Insomnia
Insomnia can be caused by a variety of factors. Consider the following common illnesses that can cause insomnia.
Mental Health Disorders:
Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”), and depression are common mental health disorders that can impact your sleep. Anxiety and PTSD often disrupt your sleep, while depression is often associated with waking up earlier than expected. Many mental health disorders can also make it difficult to fall asleep.
Medical Conditions:
There are a number of medical conditions that can cause insomnia, such as chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease, overactive thyroid, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Each of these can impact your sleep differently.
Sleep-Related Disorders:
There are a number of sleep-related disorders that can cause insomnia. Sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are common sleep-related disorders that impact the quality and quantity of your seep. Due to the nature of sleep apnea, it can often disrupt your sleep. On the other hand, restless leg syndrome can make it difficult to fall asleep.
Other Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia is often a symptom of much larger issues. Addressing the issue can often improve your sleep. However, chronic sleep issues require treatment from a New York City sleep doctor. Consider the following common causes of insomnia.
Poor Sleep Hygiene:
For those who struggle with falling asleep, it may be due to poor sleep hygiene. Effective sleep hygiene involves a nightly routine filled with effective sleep habits. Scrolling on your phone before bed, watching tv as you fall asleep, and participating in stressful activities right before bed are all habits that indicate poor sleep hygiene and can inevitably result in insomnia.
Stress:
High levels of stress, especially chronic stress, can impact your sleep. Work, school, finances, your health, and even your relationships can cause you unnecessary stress. It’s impossible to avoid stress entirely, but ineffective stress management can result in insomnia.
Schedule Changes:
For those who travel a lot for work or pleasure, routine changes can impact your sleep. Circadian rhythms act as an internal clock that determines your sleep-wake cycle. When you make schedule changes or even travel to a different time zone, your circadian rhythm can be impacted and result in insomnia.
Signs of Insomnia
There are a number of signs that you may have insomnia. If you experience one or more of the following symptoms of insomnia, consult with a sleep doctor.
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking up one or more times throughout the night
- Lack of energy throughout the day
- Difficulty staying awake throughout the day due to fatigue
- Memory issues, including difficulty recalling your thoughts or forgetting to do routine tasks
- Mood and/or behavioral changes
- Social isolation
- Mental health disorders, such as depression
Insomnia Treatment
If you have had sleep issues for more than four weeks, or if your sleep issues have impacted your daily life, consider insomnia treatment in NYC. A proper diagnosis and effective treatment plan can help you address the harmful impact of insomnia on your sleep and daily life. Contact the team at Sleep MD to schedule an appointment so you can get back to getting restful sleep!
