Prepare the sleeping area and maintain a nighttime routine.This will help to avoid or at least minimize gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which is a common digestive condition. Avoid eating at least 2 hours before bedtime.It is important to understand that these dietary and lifestyle measures can be very effective and should be the first option. However, if it is ongoing then medical treatment may be necessary. The following measures should be tried when sleep problems initially arise. In the long term, it may also be life threatening. It has also been linked to obesity and various other diseases including mental health conditions like depression.Therefore the effects of sleepless nights can be debilitating, affect daily functioning, impact on academic and work activities and even affect interpersonal relationships. With repeated sleep disturbances, other symptoms may arise including abnormal heart rate, blood pressure and blood glucose levels.Ĭhronic insomnia has been linked to an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks. This may include fatigue, headaches, disturbances in appetite, impaired senses, difficulty concentrating, irritability and mood swings. It can have an effect on physical and mental functioning. Effects of Sleepless NightsĮven a single night of poor quality sleep or a total lack of sleep can cause widespread effects on the body. It can either occur for a short period ( acute insomnia) or persist for long periods of time ( chronic insomnia). Sometimes this sleeplessness may occur with certain diseases ( comorbid insomnia). These are difficulty falling asleep ( onset insomnia) or staying asleep for a long enough period of time ( maintenance insomnia). There are two possible problems arise with sleep that may result in insomnia. Read more on causes of insufficient sleep. Insomnia in the elderly may occur secondary to various diseases but can also be associated with the physiological changes due to aging. It is also not uncommon for sleep patterns to change with age. Certain medication can also affect sleep patterns as a side effect. Irregular sleep patterns as may occur with night shift work and traveling across different timezones can also affect sleep quality and duration. In modern life, less time is spent outdoors and the use of artifical lighting can cause disruptions in melatonin levels. This hormone is responsible for the feeling of sleepiness and maintaining sleep. Usually the declining levels of light in the evening causes an increase in the levels of a hormone called melatonin. For most people, the occasional sleeplessness night may be due to diet, lifestyle factors and psychological stress.Īnother common cause of sleeplessness that is often ignored is exposure to light. Sometimes the exact cause cannot be identified. It may occur on its own without any underlying disorder or it may arise as a symptom of certain diseases like Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism and sleep apnea. There a a host of different possible causes for a sleepless night. Despite individual differences, it is generally accepted that adults require approximately 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily. For others, 6 to 7 hours may be sufficient. Some people may require 8 to 9 hours of sleep every night in order to feel rested and function optimally during the day without any degree of sleepiness. However, there is a variance in individual sleeping patterns. Irrespective of the type of sleep disturbance, a sleepless night refers to insufficient sleep which is generally defined as sleeping for less than 5 hours in a night. Most of us refer to a sleepless night as having slept for too few hours or having repeatedly disturbed sleep. However, when sleepless nights occur for long periods or recur frequently then chronic insomnia may require medical treatment.Īlthough the term ‘sleepless night’ infers that a person does not sleep at all during usual sleeping hours at night, this is not always the case. It can sometimes last for a few a days and simple lifestyle measures can be helpful. There are many reasons why the odd sleepless night may occur. For 1 in 10 adults in the United States, insomnia is a chronic problem. According to estimates, over 3 in 10 American adults report experience a problem with sleeping every years. Most people will experience some degree of insomnia every now and then.
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