Insomnia, or the inability to sleep, is frustrating and may cause long-term effects that include irritability, lack of attention, inability to focus at work or school, and exhaustion. A number of physical factors may result in insomnia and understanding these causes may help you find ways to adapt your lifestyle habits to encourage better sleep. While insomnia may also be caused by psychological factors such as stress and anxiety, physical factors may also play a large role in your inability to get a good night's sleep.
Pain
Pain caused by conditions like arthritis, cancer and mental disorders such as Alzheimer's disease may cause chronic insomnia, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A condition called Sundowner's syndrome may also result from disturbances in the brain's function and causes individuals to perk up when the sun goes down. According to William Deardorff, Ph.D., of the American Board of Professional Psychology, writing for Spine-Health.com, over 50 percent of individuals experiencing chronic pain also experience sleep disorders, including insomnia. Such pain not only makes it difficult to sleep, but affects the quality of sleep. People in such cases may not wake up feeling refreshed and report waking up repeatedly during the night.
Drug or Alcohol Abuse
A percentage of cases involving people experiencing insomnia may be blamed on substance abuse, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Abuse of alcohol may create restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. In some cases, a person going through withdrawal from drugs or alcohol may also experience periods of insomnia.
Discomfort
In order to get a good night's sleep, you have to be comfortable. If you don't have a comfortable place to sleep, you may experience sleep difficulties, including insomnia, suggests Helpguide.org. Some locations make it difficult to sleep, such as college dorm rooms, apartment buildings where tenants on different work schedules may interrupt sleep, and hot or cold environments that make sleeping uncomfortable.
Medications
Some prescribed medications may cause difficulty sleeping for some. Antidepressants and some over-the-counter cold and flu remedies can also cause insomnia. Medications taken for conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure, cancer and kidney disease may contribute to sleeplessness, suggests Helpguide.org. Some pain medications contain caffeine, which may also be prompting your periods of wakefulness when you'd rather be sleeping. Talk to your doctor about side effects of the medications you're taking and ask about alternatives if you've experienced difficulty sleeping or insomnia.
