Everyone knows that the intake of coffee and other caffeinated beverages at night can keep a good night’s sleep at bay. The same is true for having high levels of stress and anxiety. Did you know that there are so many other things that could cause insomnia that not a lot of people know about?
Constantly being bugged by insomnia and you know that it cannot be blamed on coffee, stress or anxiety? Then keep on reading. Below you will come across some of the lesser-known causes of insomnia.
If you have family and friends who are absolutely clueless as to why they are suffering from insomnia, share this article on your different social media sites later on so that they may be able to check out the following, too:
Mint Toothpaste
Brushing before hopping into bed is important in order to keep your beaming smile intact. But are you aware that brushing with mint-flavored toothpaste could prevent you from taking a trip to dreamland?
Experts say that mint has the ability to energize your brain, thus causing you to be alert. Here’s a suggestion: use your minty toothpaste in the morning, and use a different flavored one at nighttime to make sure you won’t have a hard time falling asleep.
Cell Phone
Is it your habit to use your cell phone while waiting for sleepiness to kick in? Well, you may be waiting in vain — blue light emitted by the display panel of your cell phone can in fact disrupt the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
However, it’s not just your cell phone that can bombard you with sleep-disrupting blue light, but any other electronic gadget or device that has a screen, ranging from a laptop to the telly.
Medications
There are some medications that can cause insomnia as a side effect. Some examples are anti-depressants, beta blockers, anticonvulsants, and those that have steroids or caffeine in them. Even certain medications for the common cold, cough and flu can also cause sleeplessness.
If you suspect that it’s the medication you are taking that is leaving you with insomnia, don’t just stop taking it especially if it’s prescribed by your doctor. What you need to do is report the problem to the one who instructed you to take it.
Depression
It’s no secret that anxiety can leave anyone who is suffering from it wide awake all night long due to the many terrifying thoughts running through his or her mind. Did you know that despite what many people believe depression can also cause insomnia to strike?
Mental health experts say that one of the reasons for such is that someone who is depressed tends to opt for a sedentary lifestyle and stay in bed most of the time, and such can throw off one’s ability to sleep normally at night.
Diet
Your stomach tends to produce more acid at night. If you are suffering from acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) the you will surely feel the wrath of it — heartburn and other related symptoms will surely keep you from catching some shut-eye.
See to it that your dinner and bedtime are 2 to 3 hours away from one another. And also, steer clear of foods that can cause acid reflux or GERD to strike, such as those that are acidic, spicy and greasy.
Can you think of other insomnia triggers that not a lot of people are aware of? Don’t be too shy to share some of them in the comments section down below!
WARNING: If failure to get 7 to 9 hours of restorative sleep per night is already taking its toll on your mind and body, then it’s a good idea for you to seek the help of a doctor. In some instances, insomnia is due to a hidden medical condition that needs to be identified and treated.
