Sleep Patterns and Insomnia

Sleep Patterns

• Insomnia is characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both
• People with insomnia often have:
  • Prolonged sleep latency (time to fall asleep)
  • Frequent awakenings during the night
  • Early morning awakenings with difficulty falling back asleep
  • Non-restorative sleep (not feeling refreshed after waking)
• Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term)

Causes And Risk Factors

• Psychological Factors
  • Stress, anxiety, and depression
  • Trauma, grief, or other emotional distress
• Lifestyle Factors
  • Irregular sleep schedule or poor sleep habits
  • Consuming caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol before bedtime
  • Engaging in stimulating activities before bedtime (e.g., using electronic devices)
• Medical Conditions
  • Chronic pain or discomfort
  • Sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome)
  • Neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease)
• Medications
  • Stimulants (e.g., ADHD medications)
  • Antidepressants
  • Decongestants and other medications that interfere with sleep
• Demographic Factors
  • Increasing age
  • Female gender
  • Low socioeconomic status
• Other Factors
  • Working night shifts or rotating shifts
  • Traveling across time zones
  • Environmental factors (e.g., noise, light, or temperature)

Sleep Patterns

• Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both
• Insomnia symptoms include:
  • Prolonged sleep latency (time to fall asleep)
  • Frequent awakenings during the night
  • Early morning awakenings with difficulty falling back asleep
  • Non-restorative sleep (not feeling refreshed after waking)

Causes and Risk Factors of Insomnia

Psychological Factors

• Stress, anxiety, and depression contribute to insomnia
• Trauma, grief, or other emotional distress can lead to insomnia

Lifestyle Factors

• Irregular sleep schedule or poor sleep habits increase the risk of insomnia
• Consuming caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol before bedtime can cause insomnia
• Engaging in stimulating activities before bedtime (e.g., using electronic devices) contributes to insomnia

Medical Conditions

• Chronic pain or discomfort can lead to insomnia
• Sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome) increase the risk of insomnia
• Neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease) can cause insomnia

Medications

• Stimulants (e.g., ADHD medications) can cause insomnia
• Antidepressants may contribute to insomnia
• Decongestants and other medications that interfere with sleep can cause insomnia

Demographic Factors

• Increasing age is a risk factor for insomnia
• Female gender is associated with a higher risk of insomnia
• Low socioeconomic status is linked to insomnia

Other Factors

• Working night shifts or rotating shifts can lead to insomnia
• Traveling across time zones contributes to insomnia
• Environmental factors (e.g., noise, light, or temperature) can cause insomnia

Explore the characteristics and causes of insomnia, including psychological factors, sleep latency, and non-restorative sleep. Test your knowledge of acute and chronic insomnia.