Having Trouble Sleeping? These Things Could Be Contributing to Your Insomnia

Why this resource is helpful:

"Despite hitting the sack at a decent hour, you find yourself tossing and turning for an extended period of time before you"re able to fall asleep. This is an all too familiar scenario for patients who have trouble getting to sleep at night or remaining asleep once they do. Insomnia is the most common sleep problem, with 30% of adults reporting trouble falling asleep.

It"s important to have a healthcare provider rule out medical conditions and examine your daily life and habits. If you"re experiencing sleep problems, it"s helpful to find out how you could unknowingly be sabotaging your ability to get a good night"s rest.

Medical conditions
It"s important that you see a healthcare provider to get any medical conditions under control. Certain medical conditions can prevent you from falling asleep. Here are a few:

Allergies
Anxiety
Acid reflux
Asthma
Back pain
Arthritis
Thyroid disorders
Restless leg syndrome
Substances
Alcohol
Because alcohol is a sedative, many people think it may help them sleep. Although alcohol does have sedating effects initially, it can disrupt important chemicals that help you stay asleep. If you indulge in alcohol too close to bedtime, you may find that you fall asleep quickly, but wake up a few hours later unable to fall back to sleep.

Caffeine
Your morning cup of joe may cut into your slumber. If you consume too much caffeine or indulge in it too late in the afternoon or evening, it can keep you wide awake. What"s more, the threshold is highly individual. This means your coworker may be able to have a cup after leaving work and sleep fine, though you may toss and turn if you have caffeine after lunch time.

Nicotine
If you"re a smoker, it"s a good idea to make a plan to quit. Not only does nicotine have a negative impact on your health, it can keep you up at night. Although smoking may feel relaxing, nicotine is actually a stimulant and has effects similar to caffeine. What"s more, it can stay in your system for around 14 hours. If you smoke close to bedtime, you may find yourself tossing and turning."

Search Body Health Providers Find Similar Resources

Related resources: