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There are many causes of sleep disorders today and anyone that suffers from chronic and consistent insomnia would do well to consider if any of these are applicable in their own case.  A consistent lack of sleep doesn't just feel bad, it's very bad for one's health. 

Going without sleep regularly or having poor quality sleep can lead to headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, poor blood circulation, heart disease, brain damage, lack of concentration, drowsiness, fatigue, slow metabolism, and has been associated with certain forms of cancer and even premature death.  Understanding the causes of sleep disorders is very important because in order to fix the problem it's necessary to understand what has caused that problem in the first place.

Very often the causes of sleep disorders are brought on by the person himself or herself.  A poor sleep environment can cause physical pain and discomfort and this makes it very difficult to get to sleep and to stay asleep.  You might not consider a lumpy mattress and stuffy or overly warm room as being actual causes of sleep disorders but you'd be surprised how often these things affect a person's quality of sleep. 

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Doctors today classify over 80 types of sleep disturbances or disorders.  While some are very rare and are not likely to affect anyone in the general population, some are actually very common and interrupt sleep constantly.  It's believed that about 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. suffer from chronic and consistent sleep disturbances.   While some are the result of genetic defects or physical problems and may need the intervention of a doctor, some are actually being caused by the patient himself or herself.  

As an example, physical pain often causes many sleep disturbances, both an inability to get to sleep and being awakened many times during the night as well.  Back pain is a common problem that interferes with sleep and yet many people not only neglect to take care of their back, they also put unnecessary stress and strain on it as well.  Slouching over a desk or lifting heavy groceries, sporting equipment, and children all day puts tremendous amount of stress on the back. 

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It's actually not unusual for someone to experience an occasional bout of sleeplessness throughout their life.  An illness, a stressful situation, physical pain and discomfort, or too much caffeine or food in the system can keep anyone up at night.  The occasional episode of insomnia is typically not damaging to a person's health or well-being, but when sleeplessness is chronic and consistent then there is reason for concern. 

The body needs eight hours of sleep and it needs it every single night, so denying it quality sleep on a regular basis is as dangerous as going a day without eating.  Missing an occasional meal is not a problem, but starving yourself obviously is.  And when you don't sleep on a regular basis or don't get quality sleep every single night, this too is a problem.  So what are the common causes of sleeplessness?

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If you have a hard time getting to sleep or staying asleep, or think that the sleep you're getting isn't very high-quality, you're certainly not alone.  It's believed that about 1 in 4 adults in the U.S., and maybe even more than that, suffer from one sleep disorder or another on a chronic and consistent basis.  Some disorders or disturbances are very rare and are probably nothing that most people should be concerned about, but there is one very common sleep disorder that many people have but dismiss as being trivial.  And that disorder is snoring.

Do you snore?  You might not think that this type of sleep disorder is something to be concerned about and you may assume that your sleeping partner suffers from this condition more than you do, but in reality snoring is a very serious and very damaging habit.  It's more than just a typical sleep disorder; it can damage the throat and nasal passages as well as interrupting sleep.

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Do you suffer from a chronic and consistent lack of sleep?  Many people do these days.  Sleep is very important to one's health but it's interesting how many things can interrupt it completely.  Stress and anxiety can keep a person awake for hours or wake them up in the middle of the night.  Pain and discomfort make it difficult to fall asleep.  And problems like sleep apnea and severe snoring can also cause a lack of sleep for the sufferer and the person that he or she shares a bed with.

While some people dismiss a lack of sleep as being not very important, and certainly some people think that it's "cool" to stay up late or go as long as you can without sleep, it's very important for the body's overall health to get adequate sleep every single night.  A chronic and consistent lack of sleep has been associated with some forms of cancer, heart disease, blood disorders, muscle pain, digestive disorders, and in extreme cases even death.

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Can't sleep?  If so, you're not alone!  As a matter of fact, probably a lot of your neighbors, friends, and coworkers are also up all night like you, tossing and turning, wishing they too could just get some sleep!

Chronic and consistent sleeplessness is a huge problem in the U.S. and probably other countries as well; it's believed that about 1 in 4 adults suffer from insomnia on a regular basis … but they don't need to!

Most people who suffer from sleeplessness can have the problem solved quickly, easily, and without harsh medication and addictive chemicals … if they just know how!

And this is where we come in.

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Do you snore?  Does it disrupt your sleep or the sleep of someone trying to share your bed?  You may not think that sleep disorders and snoring are actually related since many people snore and consider it a nuisance but perfectly natural.  It's true that sometimes some noise at night isn't anything to be worried about and with some people, snoring is a temporary problem caused by blocked sinuses or dry air in the bedroom.  But very often sleep disorders and snoring are intertwined and are actually very dangerous.  Let's take a look at this subject for a moment and discuss why we say that.

For one thing, sleep disorders and snoring are often caused by the same thing - constant blockage of the sinuses and airways and disturbance along the throat and mouth.  While not technically snoring, people often lump a wide range of breathing sounds during the night into this category - choking, gasping, wheezing, and snorting are often called snoring even though they really aren't.  But if consider all these breathing problems as a symptom of the same problem, then sleep disorders and snoring are a signal of a larger respiratory problem that can be very dangerous.

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Do you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep?  It's believed that at least 1 out of every 4 adults in the U.S. has a consistent and chronic sleep disturbance of one type or another.  Some fall asleep right away but can't sleep the night.  Some toss and turn for hours before they can fall asleep.  Some fall asleep and stay asleep but can't get quality sleep.  And many have some combination of all of these types of a sleep disturbance.  While some still dismiss a problem with sleep as being unimportant and try to medicate the problem with caffeine or energy drinks, in truth even a small problem with sleep, if it's consistent and chronic, should be addressed in an effective manner.  

As an example, let's consider the problem of not getting to sleep right away.  Some don't see this as a sleep disturbance as they can eventually get to sleep.  But often this means that a person is not getting enough sleep.  If a person goes to bed at 11:00 o'clock at night and gets up at 7:00 the next morning, they think they've gotten eight hours of sleep.  But a sleep disturbance that keeps you from falling asleep can mean that you don't drop off until well after midnight, cutting into your hours of sleep. 

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If you have trouble getting to sleep at night or find yourself waking up several times during the night, then you may already realize that you have a sleep disorder.  People typically should fall asleep within 20 minutes of going to bed and usually don't wake up during the night.  But many sleep disorder symptoms are not even related to your sleep patterns.  This means you may have a sleeping disturbance and not even realize it!  Let's take a look at common sleep disorder symptoms and see what they include.

Waking up with a headache or sore throat on a consistent basis are common sleep disorder symptoms.  While headaches and sore throats are symptoms of many conditions such as colds and the flu, these are usually rare and may happen to a person once or twice per year.  When you consistently have these sleep disorder symptoms and find that you wake up with them, then there is reason for concern. 

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It's very interesting and somewhat ironic that many sleep disorders and depression are related and even intertwined.  A person suffering from severe problems with sleeping can find that they're exhausted all day, which leads to depression.  And when someone has clinical depression they're less likely to be able to sleep at night or may sleep far too much during the day, which in turn just causes more sleep problems.  Let's take a closer look at how sleep disorders and depression are connected and how they can be addressed, together and separately.

As mentioned, sleep disorders and depression are often related because someone that suffers from unchecked insomnia can feel tired and lethargic all day long.  They also typically suffer from nausea and muscle pain.  These things can lead to depression as a person struggles to cope with these problems.  Often sleep disorders and depression are connected because it's difficult to feel positive and energetic and to accomplish things when you're tired and drowsy.  Many problems with sleep lead to inactivity and this too can put a person into a depression.

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