Sleep is one of the most important biological functions of the human body. It is essential for brain functioning. It helps control our metabolism and weight, promotes stable moods, helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, boosts our immune system/function, increases knowledge retention, and helps us with long and short-term memory. The amount of rest required depends on your individual needs. But 8 hours of sleep is generally recommended for everyone. But what about the people suffering from sleeplessness? What can be the causes for sleeplessness?
Sleeplessness has become very common nowadays. There are numerous potential causes of sleeplessness, and in many cases, multiple factors can be involved. Our lifestyle changes as we grow old. Thus the change in lifestyles affects our sleep schedules a lot. Most people experience difficulty sleeping at some point in their lives. Therefore, it is essential that you know what are the causes for sleeplessness and avoids them as much as possible.
Below given are 8 potential causes for sleeplessness
1. Screen time
This virtual world has increased our screen time fourfold. Now it seems everything we do is through mobile, laptop, tablet, etc. The blue light emitted by our screens affects the melatonin production in our brains. The blue light emitted suppress melatonin levels in the body and delay sleepiness. Thus, being on the phone during bed keeps our brain active and stimulated, keeping quality sleep at bay. Keeping in mind the current scenario, this is one of the major causes for sleeplessness.
2. Lack of physical activity
Exercising improves sleep for many people. Specifically, moderate-to-vigorous exercise has proved to increase sleep quality for adults by reducing sleep onset; the time it takes to fall asleep, and decrease the amount of time they lie awake in bed during the night. Having some time to work up a bit of sweat during the day helps improve the quality of your sleep. But you must note that working out right before bed might be counterproductive as the stimulation received disrupts immediate sleep.
3. Poor diet
What we eat affects how much we sleep. Foods rich in sugars and caffeine keep us awake for a longer period of time as they provide the body with the kick to keep moving. Having a diet without adequate fiber also affects the quality of our sleep. Eating less fiber, more saturated fat, and more sugar throughout the day is linked with lighter, less restorative sleep. A poor night’s sleep will keep you irritated for the next day as well, which will in turn affect your diet plan. Hence, you must eat proper diet foods.
4. Stress
Chances are there if you suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental ailments, your brain is working overtime to facilitate these thoughts. These overtime thoughts swarm and eat up the time of your quality sleep. They keep you up at odd hours, your body isn’t able to rest properly to heal and nourish itself. The body’s physical response to stress contributes to hyperarousal, and mental stress, which can have the same effect. The inability to sleep may itself become a source of stress, making it increasingly harder to break the cycle of stress and sleeplessness.
5. Irregular sleep schedules
The human body has a biological clock that works at a particular. Constant deviation from this schedule hampers your sleep time. Irregular sleeping patterns, including catch-up sleep, can negatively affect the body’s metabolism, which controls how we function and use energy. This in turn affects how much we sleep.
6. Medication
Sleeping problems and sleeplessness can be a side effects of many types of medications. This may include blood pressure drugs, anti-asthma medications, and antidepressants. Other drugs may cause daytime drowsiness that can throw off a person’s sleep schedule. Medications that commonly cause insomnia include antidepressants, decongestants, beta-blockers, and statins.
7. Breathing problems
Heavy snoring can be a cause of sleeplessness. It cuts off your breathing and could wake you hundreds of times in a single night. You may not remember it, but you might feel groggy the next day. Sometimes it’s related to your weight, but not always. Nasal allergies and asthma also could interfere with your breathing. This deprives you of the quality sleep which you need.
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