What are some medical reasons that can cause insomnia?

Many people confuse the symptoms of insomnia. They believe all it means to be an insomniac is not to be able to rest. But this is not it. People who actually have insomnia find themselves unable to sleep at night despite having the time and opportunity. It means that if you are partying at night or have tons of workload because of which you are sitting in front of your laptop screen until late, then you are not an insomniac. Patients who have this condition are ones who can't shut off their eyes despite trying. For those interested in learning the reasons for insomnia, here is more information. Have a glance!

Reasons of Insomnia

People cannot fall or stay asleep at night for several reasons like jet lag, medicines, caffeine, and alcohol. Besides these, some medical causes can also result in insomnia. These include:

Stress:

In distressing events like the death of a loved one or job loss, people can get a little worried. The anxiety and stress can keep them up at night and cause concern. Generally, this only occurs for a short while and is called acute insomnia. However, it is called chronic insomnia if it continues for the long term and is accompanied by an anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and PTSD.

Irregular sleep times:

Often people do not sleep at regular times, which disrupts their internal clock. It could be because of several reasons like working overnight, long travel, and changes in shifts of your job. The out of sync circadian clock can mean trouble as it can lead to sleep disorders. Thus, you should make sure to rest at regular times.

Mental Illness:

Mental illness is another medical condition that can keep you wide awake at night. Your mental well-being has a significant role to play when it comes to a restful night's sleep. But in people who are suffering from conditions like anxiety, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive behaviour, the mental state is problematic. This keeps them up at night and causes insomnia.

Breathing problems:

People who have breathing difficulties at night might have a breathing-related sleep disorder called sleep apnea. It can develop because of reasons like obesity or structural problems. In many patients, this condition is accompanied by another sleep disorder where people cannot fall or stay asleep called insomnia.

Dementia:

Patients who have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia can feel unsettled. As a result, they might feel restless when you normally expect them to sleep. It is known as sundown syndrome or sundowning. In the condition, the person experiences confusion, restlessness, aggression, and anxiety around bedtime. It makes the individual pace, rock, and even wander off.

Pain:

Caused because of arthritis, back problems, cancer, or physical injury, pain can prevent you from drifting off to sleep. The issue can get further complicated since sleeplessness can make the pain hurt more, thus beginning a vicious cycle.

So, these are a few medical conditions that can result in insomnia.