Seven Medical Conditions That Cause Insomnia

Insomnia is when you have trouble sleeping. Over time, the effects can grow and become severe.

Some of the effects become dangerous when insomnia is severe or long-lasting.

Insomnia often occurs when people experience disruptions in how they feel or function because they are not sleeping well or sleeping enough.

It is a medical condition that affects about 10% of the world's population. 

Insomnia is usually not dangerous and there are numerous treatments available, including medications and mental health services.

Below are seven medical conditions that can cause insomnia. 

1. Stress

Events like losing a job or losing a loved one frequently result in fewer nights causing insomnia. 

If the insomnia clears up on its own after a few nights, your doctor may diagnose it as acute insomnia. 

Chronic insomnia, however, is a more serious condition that can be brought on by long-term worry, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and PTSD.

 

2. Mental Illness

More than half of the time, a troubled mental state plays a role in people having insomnia. 

People who suffer from depression are far more likely to experience sleep problems, including insomnia. 

Anxiety, bipolar, and obsessive-compulsive disorders are also present. The way you sleep can reveal information about the type of illness you have. 

It's not uncommon to be diagnosed with a mental disorder after seeking insomnia treatment.

 

3. Dementia

Along with memory loss, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia can make some people restless when they should be sleeping. 

It's referred to as "sundown syndrome" or "sundowning." 

Around bedtime, the person may become confused, anxious, restless, or aggressive, and begin to pace, rock, or even wander away. 

Sometimes this behaviour fades, but other times it keeps them awake all night.

 

4. Breathing Problems

Heavy snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea, which causes you to stop breathing and wake up hundreds of times in a single night. 

You may not remember it but the next day you may feel groggy. It is sometimes, but not always, related to your weight. 

Nasal allergies and asthma can also impair your breathing. 

A doctor can screen you for these conditions and assist you in managing and treating them.

 

5. Menopause

In middle age, a woman's body gradually stops producing progesterone and estrogen. 

The shifting hormonal balance, as well as other changes that occur in life around this time, can make you more sensitive to things like stress that affect sleep. 

Severe hot flashes, which are adrenaline surges that raise your body temperature, can be so uncomfortable that you wake up drenched in sweat, sometimes multiple times per night.

 

6. Pregnancy

Most women, let's say 78% have trouble sleeping at some point during their pregnancies which often results in insomnia. 

There are lots of reasons for that, including:

Hormonal changes

Need to pee more often

Heartburn or nausea

Trouble getting comfortable

Back pain or leg cramps

Anxiety

Vivid dreams

Getting enough sleep is especially important when you're pregnant. Tell your doctor if you're having sleep problems.

7. Itching

Psoriasis and eczema can cause your skin to burn and itch so badly that it is all you can think about. 

You will not be distracted by counting sheep. If you do fall asleep, you might scratch so hard that you wake up! 

There are, thankfully, things you can do to soothe your skin. It's best to see a doctor if you don't know what's causing the itch.