Why do I feel anxious and unable to sleep every night, and what should I do?

Sep 30, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Introduction
Nighttime palpitations and insomnia are associated with poor lifestyle habits, mental stress, anxiety disorder, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, and other factors. Consuming strong tea or coffee excessively at night or engaging in intense physical activity may stimulate the nervous system, making it difficult to fall asleep. Avoid staying up late, and engage in moderate exercise such as jogging or hiking, which benefits overall health.

Generally, experiencing palpitations and insomnia every night may be related to unhealthy lifestyle habits, mental stress, anxiety disorder, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, and other factors. It is recommended that patients promptly visit a hospital and receive treatment under medical guidance. Specific analysis is as follows:

1. Unhealthy lifestyle habits: Excessive consumption of strong tea or coffee at night, or engaging in intense physical activity, may stimulate the nervous system, making it difficult to fall asleep. This can be accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, vivid dreams, and frequent awakenings. It is advised to avoid stimulating beverages before bedtime, refrain from vigorous exercise, and maintain a good sleep environment.

2. Mental stress: Prolonged mental stress may lead to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, causing nighttime palpitations and insomnia. Symptoms may also include emotional instability, irritability, and easy fatigue. It is recommended to adjust one's mindset and practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.

3. Anxiety disorder: Anxiety disorder can keep the brain in a state of heightened alertness, increasing heart rate and causing palpitations. At night, it may disrupt normal sleep patterns, leading to difficulty falling asleep or frequent awakenings. Patients should take medications such as estazolam tablets, fluoxetine hydrochloride capsules, or diazepam tablets under a doctor’s guidance to aid recovery.

4. Hyperthyroidism: Elevated thyroid hormone levels increase the body's metabolic rate, leading to symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and increased body temperature. These symptoms may worsen at night, thereby affecting sleep. Other accompanying symptoms include weight loss, excessive sweating, and hand tremors. Patients should take medications such as lithium carbonate tablets, propylthiouracil tablets, or methimazole tablets under medical supervision.

5. Hypertension: Blood pressure in hypertensive patients may rise at night, increasing cardiac load and causing palpitations and insomnia. Additional symptoms may include headache, dizziness, and blurred vision. Patients are advised to take medications such as nifedipine sustained-release tablets, amlodipine besylate tablets, or irbesartan hydrochlorothiazide tablets under a doctor's guidance to alleviate symptoms.

In daily life, it is important to develop healthy lifestyle habits, avoid staying up late, and engage in moderate physical activities such as jogging or hiking, which contribute to overall health.