What Causes Insomnia?
What causes insomnia? I have asked this question too many times myself. Wondering if my inability to fall asleep was related to something I ate or drank, being on the computer in the evening, a late night telephone conversation or too little or too much exercise. Most often I couldn't figure out what was causing my sleepless night. Sometimes it can be something as simple as too much caffeine too late in the day to a combination of many lifestyle factors.
Insomnia Causes
Insomnia causes fall into one of three categories.External or Environment Noisy neighbors, snoring bed partner, or barking dogs can keep us from falling asleep. Bedrooms that are too cold or too hot can keep us awake or wake us up in the middle of the night. Too much light coming into the bedroom or children that are still up at night all disrupt one's sleep. Health Conditions Itching eczema, restless legs, low back pain, or a pounding headache can mean a sleepless night when you desperately need some sleep. Lifestyle/Diet A diet too high in sugar or caffeine can stimulate the body too much that it is unable to relax. A sedentary job of sitting at a computer all day following by a long commute home, with little opportunity for exercise or exposure to daylight affects our circadian rhythm and prevents a good night's sleep. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially magnesium and the vitamin B's prevent us from relaxing and nodding off.
Insomnia and Coffee
You could always find a pot of hot coffee at my parents' house no matter if it was early morning, mid-afternoon or evening. How many cups of coffee they drank everyday, I'm not sure they could even tell you. For years this daily habit didn't seem to interfere with their sleep. However, finally my dad became more sensitive to caffeine and to a cup of real coffee in the evening - although he wouldn't admit it. I remember pouring him a second cup of coffee one evening at a special event and asking, "Are you sure you want more coffee? It's caffeinated coffee." "Oh no, caffeine doesn't bother me," he emphatically stated. Of course the next morning he complained how he hardly slept the night before. He just wouldn't believe that our sensitivity to caffeine changes as we age. Caffeine may not be the cause of your insomnia, but it's an easy place to start to get to the bottom of your sleepless nights.
Insomnia and Coffee
Insomnia and Alcohol
Perhaps your business involves late night dinners combined with drinks before and/or after your meal. Or maybe you are having trouble falling asleep and are wondering if a drink before bedtime will help you fall asleep quicker.Find out the role of alcohol in our ability to fall asleep, stay asleep and get quality deep sleep.
Insomnia and Alcohol
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