What causes Insomnia?

There are many causes.

Transient and intermittent insomnia generally occur in people who are temporarily experiencing one or more of the following:

• A life crisis or stress, including the loss of a life partner, divorce, or loss of a job
• Environmental noise
• Extreme temperatures (eg, a room that is too hot or too cold)
• Change in the surrounding environment (one of the most common causes)
• Sleep/wake schedule problems such as those due to jet lag
• Hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause
• Side effects of medicine
  • Nonprescription: diet aids, decongestants, cold and cough remedies
  • Prescription: steroids, theophylline, phenytoin, levodopa

Chronic insomnia sometimes results from the following conditions:

• Depression
• Mania
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Kidney disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Liver failure
• Heart disease
• Asthma
• Sleep apnea
• Narcolepsy
• Parkinson's disease
• Alzheimer's disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or ulcer
• Restless legs syndrome-a creeping sensation in the lower legs, which only improves when you move your legs; an important cause of insomnia

Chronic insomnia may also be due to behavioral factors, including:

• Misuse of caffeine, alcohol, or other substances
• Disrupted sleep/wake cycles from shift work or other nighttime activities
• Chronic stress

In addition, the following behaviors have been shown to perpetuate insomnia in some people:

• Expecting to have difficulty sleeping and worrying about it-usually starts in young adults
• Smoking cigarettes before bedtime
• Excessive napping in the afternoon or evening