- Many elderly people typically sleep lightly and fitfully.
- Some people are kept awake by painful conditions such as arthritis, others are disturbed by the need to urinate frequently or by leg cramps.
- Sleeplessness is also common during pregnancy, especially in the later weeks.
Other causes of insomnia include:
- Previous arguments with family members
- Watching exciting programs on television late at night
- Consuming caffeine (found in tea, coffee or cola drinks), large amounts of alcohol or a large meal close to bedtime
- In most cases, however, the core problem is emotional.
It is not a serious medical condition but it can greatly affect the patient’s work and social life.
This will depend on your lifestyle changes and/or emotional status.
There are a number of ways to help yourself fall asleep more easily:
- Exercising during the day or going for a stroll an hour or so before bedtime.
- Taking a warm bath or drinking a glass of warm milk (milk contains a chemical that is converted to a sleep-enhancing compound in the brain) before bedtime.
- It is often possible to break the cycle of insomnia by deliberately staying awake for an entire night.
- Medicines may be prescribed when the cause of insomnia includes a particularly stressful situation (a bereavement or the loss of a job, for example) or pain from some physical condition.
There can be many different causes of insomnia.
Any medical information on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. Click here for more important information.