What are the causes of insomnia?
May 17, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Huang Shichang
Introduction
Causes of insomnia include poor sleep environment, unhealthy lifestyle habits, anxiety disorders, neurasthenia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and others. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and undergo symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. Patients are advised to maintain a light diet and avoid using electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers before bedtime, which may help improve sleep quality.
Insomnia can be caused by poor sleep environment, unhealthy lifestyle habits, anxiety disorders, neurasthenia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other factors. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and receive symptomatic treatment under the guidance of a qualified physician. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. Poor Sleep Environment
Factors such as noise and excessively bright lighting can create an unfavorable sleep environment, making it difficult for the body to relax and leading to overexcitement of the brain's nerves, which may result in insomnia. It is advisable to ensure a quiet sleeping environment and improve sleep quality by using tools such as blackout curtains or earplugs.
2. Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits
Consuming caffeine-containing beverages like coffee or tea before bedtime can increase neural excitability in the brain, potentially disrupting sleep and causing insomnia. It is recommended to avoid caffeine intake before sleep, keep dinner light, and avoid overeating, all of which can help improve sleep quality.
3. Anxiety Disorder
This may be related to poor interpersonal relationships, excessive anxiety, and other factors. After onset, patients may experience emotional disturbances and sleep disorders, manifesting as insomnia, restlessness, and agitation. It is recommended that patients take medications such as estazolam tablets, alprazolam tablets, or sertraline hydrochloride tablets as prescribed by their doctor.
4. Neurasthenia
This condition may be associated with excessive mental stress or overuse of the brain. Once developed, it can lead to dysfunction of the cerebral cortex, resulting in poor sleep quality, difficulty falling asleep, insomnia, and other discomforts, possibly accompanied by frequent dreaming. Patients are advised to take medications such as mecobalamin tablets, vitamin B12 tablets, or oryzanol tablets according to medical instructions.
5. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
This is usually caused by long-term smoking, genetic factors, and others. After onset, breathing difficulties and sleep apnea may occur, affecting sleep quality and leading to insomnia, possibly accompanied by wheezing. It is recommended that patients use medications such as theophylline sustained-release tablets, salbutamol inhalation aerosol, or sulfate salbutamol sustained-release capsules under medical supervision to alleviate symptoms.
In daily life, patients are advised to maintain a light diet and avoid using electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers before bedtime, which can help improve sleep quality.
