Many things can cause you to stay up all night. There are physical factors that include the time you wake up and go to sleep and even factors like what you eat before you go to sleep. If you think carefully about the mood you are in before you go to sleep and what you were doing right before bed you are sure to be able to find what causes insomnia, more specifically your insomnia.
It is important to understand the root cause so you can find a cure for insomnia. Sometimes the reason behind what causes insomnia is a medical condition.
External Causes of Insomnia
Is your bedroom a haven of relaxation? Or is it merely an annex of your workplace? If you answered yes to the latter question, then it just might be your surroundings which are contributing to your insomnia. It's important that your bedroom be peaceful and calming.
Once you realize that your bedroom is not a soothing place, then you can work out how to transform it. Making it comfy and pleasant will help to put an end to your sleeplessness. Also, redecorate with light-blocking blinds or heavy drapery to keep out the light. This goes a long way towards curing insomnia.
Do you drink a lot of coffee throughout the day? If you have more than a couple cups, it's bound to aggravate your sleeping problems. Indeed, overindulging in caffeine or alcohol is a leading cause of chronic insomnia.
Medical Conditions
Coffee is a real problem, but the reason for your insomnia could be considerably more alarming than that. It might be a medical condition which is keeping you up at night, especially if you have just received the news of a problem from your doctor.
The diagnosis as well as the knowledge of the disease could have you up all night worrying about it. Some of the medical conditions that are behind the questions of what causes insomnia are high blood pressure, heart disease and Parkinson's.
If you suspect that you have any of these medical conditions then you might need to see a doctor to confirm your suspicions, particularly if your insomnia persists and relaxing before bed doesn't seem to do the trick.
Insomnia often seems like something trivial but it might hide a more serious medical condition that has gone undiagnosed.
If sleep continually eludes you, it's time to take a look at your surroundings and take some steps to create a true sleep sanctuary.
1) De-clutter and Remove Everything that's Not Bedroom Related
Clutter traps dust and dust can trigger a host of allergies. If your room is full of books and newspapers or hobby supplies, clean it up and clear it out. If you keep a computer in the bedroom -- move it! Ditto for hobby supplies. Computers contain cadmium, lead, flame retardants, epoxy plastics and there is a plethora of inks and glues involved with many hobbies. You want to avoid breathing in these dangerous toxins at night.
2) Remove Carpet or Use Area Rugs
It's warm underfoot, but rugs can harbor all kinds of nasty things. If you can't live without carpet in your bedroom get an area rug or have a piece of carpet cut to the size of the room, air it out, and wash and rinse it with water before having it fitted. Chemicals can be found in carpet backing, adhesives and the fibers themselves, as well as stain or water resistant treatments that have been applied to the carpet. Make sure to choose untreated, natural fiber options.
3) Choose an Organic Mattress and Linens
Replace old bedding, especially ?wrinkle-free? and other sheets containing synthetic additives like formaldehyde and pesticides, with organic linens. Use organic barrier covers for pillows and mattresses to provide an allergen barrier. Synthetic fabrics release chemicals as your body heats them through the night. Since your skin is your largest organ, you want to make sure what your sleeping in is safe enough to be absorbed by your body.
4) Check the Room for Mold
Mold can wreak a whole host of health issues from mild allergy-like symptoms to debilitating illness, depending on the level of mold in a building and the sensitivity of the exposed individuals. Mold can grow on a variety of surfaces like drywall and wood as long as there is moisture to feed it. If there's a leak in a roof, window or plumbing, mold can even grow unseen behind walls and under floors.
5) Air Out Dry Cleaning
An abundance of unhealthy chemicals are used in the dry cleaning process. But you can lesson your exposure. Before you bring your dry cleaned clothes into your bedroom, air them out for 3-to-4 days and choose a green-friendly dry cleaner.
6) Use Battery Clocks Near the Bed
Research has shown that exposure to high magnetic fields while sleeping can cause severe long-term illness. Many electric clocks produce high magnetic fields. Replace your alarm clock with a battery-powered model.
7) Turn Off Circuit Breakers Before Bedtime
Electric fields affect the body's bio-communication system, keeping you from sleeping soundly. Even with everything unplugged, current still runs through the walls and floors of your bedroom. Turn off the circuit breaker to your bedroom when you turn in at night.
8) Eliminate or Shield from RF
Radio frequency (RF) signals from portable phones, cell phones, and wireless devices have been shown to interfere with the body's immune system. Turn them off before going to bed.
9) Use Non-Metal Beds and Keep New Furniture Out of the Bedroom for the First Few Months
Metal frames and metal box springs can amplify and distort the earth's natural magnetic field, which can lead to a non-restful sleep. Use natural materials instead. Furniture can also make a significant contribution to the chemical concoction in bedroom air. By choosing a natural latex organic mattress, you will avoid any metal springs in your mattress.
10) Create Healthy Indoor Air Quality
Since we spend 1/3 of our life in our bedrooms, it is vital to maintain clean and healthy air-- in this room in particular. Make sure to implement a HEPA filter containing a blend of carbon and zeolite like Green Nest's Healthmate for removal of biological and chemical contaminants. Don't forget to change your furnace air filters regularly - every 3 months to be safe.
Both Keira Adams & Lisa Beres are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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