Insomnia can be caused by a variety of different reasons. It can be classified as.
1. Environmental factors.
Noise or light disturb sleep, high temperature or cold affect sleep, uncomfortable bedding such as too hard or too thick or too thin bedding can affect sleep. Change of sleep environment such as hospitalization or hotel can also cause insomnia. Co-sleepers, especially those who snore loudly, also affect sleep.
2. Physiological factors.
High-speed travel across several time zones (jet lag reaction) and changing from day shift to night shift work, insomnia also occurs because the internal biological clock has not yet adapted to the new circadian rhythm.
3. Psychosocial factors.
Stress and various life events can cause insomnia. Anxiety over one’s own or a loved one’s illness, fear of surgery, death of a loved one, worrying about exams or accepting an important job are all common causes of temporary insomnia.
4. Somatic diseases.
Various painful diseases that make people suffer such as heart and lung diseases, arthritis, advanced cancer, nocturia, gastrointestinal diseases, kidney failure, hyperthyroidism, Parkinson’s disease, etc. often cause insomnia.
5. Mental illnesses.
Depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, etc. are often accompanied by insomnia symptoms.
6, drugs.
The drugs that most often cause insomnia are caffeine, theophylline and various stimulants, as well as alcohol and appetite suppressants. This type of insomnia is called rebound insomnia.
7, sleep concomitant disorders.
Such as nightmares, night terrors.
8.Primary sleep disorders.
Such as idiopathic insomnia, sleep phase delay or advance syndrome, sleep apnea syndrome.
9.Pseudosomnia.
Pseudosomnia is also known as sleep state misidentification, that is, to have slept mistaken for not slept. Some people also think of fatigue as insomnia.
Types of insomnia
1.Transient insomnia (less than a week)
Most people experience transient insomnia when they are under stress, stimulation, excitement, or anxiety; when they are sick; when they go to high altitude; or when their sleep patterns change (such as jet lag; shift work, etc.). This type of insomnia usually improves with the disappearance of the event or the lengthening of time, but some transient insomnia can lead to chronic insomnia if not properly managed. The main treatment principle for transient insomnia is the intermittent use of low-dose sedative sleeping pills or other sleep-aiding drugs such as antidepressants and good sleep hygiene practices.
2.Short-term insomnia (one week to one month)
Severe or persistent stress, such as major physical illness or surgery, the death of a friend or family member, serious family, work or relationship problems, etc. may cause short-term insomnia. There is a clear correlation between this insomnia and stress.
Treatment is based on the short-term use of low doses of sedative sleeping pills or other sleep-aiding drugs such as antidepressants and behavioral therapy (e.g., muscle relaxation). Short-term insomnia can also lead to chronic insomnia if not treated properly.
3.Chronic insomnia (more than one month)
The causes of chronic insomnia are complex and difficult to discover. Many cases of chronic insomnia are caused by a combination of causes. The possible causes of chronic insomnia are as follows.
(1) Physical illnesses that can lead to insomnia.
(2) Insomnia caused by mental illness or emotional disorders.
(3) Insomnia caused by the use of drugs, alcohol, stimulants, or drugs.
(4) Insomnia caused by disorders or irregularities in the sleep-wake cycle.
(5) Insomnia caused by an uncomfortable sensation in the lower legs before bedtime or involuntary foot twitching during sleep.
(6) Insomnia caused by snoring, irregular breathing or other breathing disorders in sleep.
(7) Primary insomnia. Insomnia caused by unknown reasons.