Last Updated on Monday, 07 February 2011 15:43

Insomnia Causes

Insomnia is divided into two types and each has distinct but overlapping causes.

Transient Insomnia

Transient, short-term insomnia is a common type of sleep disturbance. Most patients do not seek medical help and recover naturally; though in some individuals the condition may become chronic. Stress, related to health, occupational, financial, academic or interpersonal issues, is often the underlying cause. Working night shifts, or jet lag, may be other precipitating factors.

Chronic Insomnia

Chronic insomnia has many causes.

• Psychiatric illness is the most common factor.

• Chronic insomnia is also considered a risk factor for the development of mood disorders/other psychiatric illnesses.

• Underlying medical disorders-virtually any health condition may deprive you of sleep.

• Certain medications

• Sleep-wake schedule disorder, including that caused by jet lag and shift - work

• Other primary sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome and sleep apnoea

• Primary insomnia, which has no identifiable cause

Sleep patterns also change with aging. Some of these disturbances may be a function of the aging process itself, rather than resulting from secondary factors.

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