Sleep disorders: explanations
In extreme cases, constant lack of sleep can lead to some serious diseases, including cardiovascular disease. In the case of chronic insomnia, it is necessary to identify the main causes in order to be able to treat them quickly. A sleep disorder can have a psychological, pathological, physiological or environmental origin.
Insomnia, stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety are factors commonly implicated in long-term insomnia. These two disorders can quickly take on an important emotional dimension and affect sleep quality. Constant stress can lead to depression, which is one of the most important psychological problems for "sleepless" people. Difficulty falling asleep develops gradually, manifesting itself in very light, intermittent and irregular sleep.
Sleep stress manifests itself in two ways:
Positive stress is a fleeting and brief state that allows adaptation to a new event and a new context in life. This state of "irritability" can lead to a temporary inability to sleep peacefully.
Negative stress leads to difficulty sleeping due to anxiety. Sleep disturbance may persist.
So it is important to distinguish. Avoid thinking about problems before bed as much as possible and do some relaxation exercises. Do not dramatize the occasional insomnia.
Sleep disturbance, lifestyle and medications
Some of the causes of sleep disturbances are physiological and are associated with an unhealthy lifestyle with eating too heavy meals, excessive alcohol or coffee intake, late and intense physical activity, etc. Lack of a sleep-wake routine, habits of taking very long naps, jet lag, and night work keep you from sleeping well. Drug treatments can also affect sleep quality. For example, it is not recommended to use cortisone in the evening.
Insomnia and the environment
The environment is also a factor in sleep quality. Noise, improper temperature, very intense light, or poorly ventilated room are all factors that cause insomnia.
Noise is often the source of small awakenings that disrupt sleep and negatively affect recovery function. This is the reason why people who do not sleep due to noise always feel tired early in the morning, even if they do not wake up in the night. The body poorly adapts to excessively high temperatures, which can disturb sleep. The ideal temperature for sleeping at night is around 20°C.
Light has an effect on the circadian cycle, as the brain is very sensitive to variations in wavelengths. If the light is too bright at night, it may affect the quality of sleep. Prefer dim light to night light.
Insomnia and diseases
Infectious diseases, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, osteoporosis, neurological and cardiovascular disorders are all factors that cause insomnia. Hence the need for rapid detection of the potential origins of a sleep disorder. Asthma, hyperthyroidism, and GERD also prevent patients from getting regular sleep due to the accompanying pain and discomfort.