Causes of Insomnia: Lifestyle

A person's lifestyle can also have a dramatic impact on how well they are able to sleep as well as the quality of sleep.

Diet

What you eat and how much can have a significant impact on your sleep. Overeating can cause you to feel bloated and feel less comfortable when lying down. Under eating and having that hungry feeling in your stomach may also make it harder to fall asleep.

Having too much spicy foods and those high in sugar may cause heartburn for some, keeping them awake at night. Drinking caffeine late in the day, such as coffee or tea, will also make it more difficult to sleep.

A consistent diet that is low in fat, high in protein, contains plenty of fruits and vegetables, and includes drinking at least six 8-ounce glasses of water per day is optimal for many. It will allow you to sleep better and help improve your overall health.

Alcohol

While alcohol may help some people fall asleep faster, it can also cause to stay awake at night. For some, even small amounts of alcohol can make it harder to stay asleep. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink alcohol to help you sleep.

Smoking

Smoking can also cause sleep problems. Like caffeine, nicotine is a stimulant that can keep you awake at night.

Stress

Having too much stress in your life can make it more difficult to fall sleep. Being overly concerned about problems in your life can make your mind too active, making it harder to sleep.

Aging

Sleep patterns often change as you get older. Older adults do not fall into as deep a sleep and may wake up more easily. In addition, older the internal clocks in older individuals may cause they to wake up earlier than the needed amount of sleep.

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