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Reducing Your Risk of Insomnia

Insomnia can occur in response to a behavioral, physical, or mental health issue. Physical, psychological, environmental, and modifiable lifestyle factors can all play a role in preventing chronic insomnia, or alleviating the symptoms if it occurs. Most people experience temporary insomnia at some time in their lives. Preventing chronic insomnia from developing requires early treatment.

Treat Underlying Disease

Chronic disease and pain can cause insomnia for a variety of reasons. Diseases or conditions that may disrupt sleep include:

Discuss with your doctor whether these conditions or any other physical problems can be treated. Proper and timely treatment can reduce symptoms and often lead to an improved night’s sleep.

Avoid Certain Medications

Certain medications can cause sleeping difficulties as a side effect. Having to take one or more of these drugs can lead to insomnia. Some medications that may affect sleep include:

Avoid taking over-the-counter cold remedies if you have difficulty sleeping. If you are taking a prescription medication that disturbs sleep as a side effect, talk to your doctor. You may be able to take an alternative drug that does not disturb your sleep.

Note: Do not stop taking any prescription medication without the approval of your doctor.

Reduce Stress

Stress is considered by most sleep experts to be the number one cause of short-term sleeping difficulties. Common triggers include school- or job-related pressures, a family or relationship stressors, and a serious illness or death in the family.

Regular exercise can help relieve stress, but try not to exercise close to bedtime. A workout within 3 hours of bedtime may actually keep you awake because your body has not had a chance to cool down and relax. Other techniques that may reduce stress are meditation and deep breathing.

Adjust Daily Activities

Habits and activities that you do during the day or night can interfere with getting a good night's sleep. Adjust your time schedule in order to avoid:

  • Exercising close to bedtime
  • Eating a large meal prior to bedtime
  • Following an irregular morning and nighttime schedule
  • Working or doing other mentally intense activities right before or after getting into bed
  • Napping during the day, which can interfere with your ability to sleep at night—If you nap, do so for no more than one hour during the day.

Avoid Nicotine, Caffeine, and Alcohol

Nicotine and caffeine stimulate the nervous system. Although this may give you a sense of energy during the day, these substances may interfere with your ability to go to sleep at night. Alcohol depresses the nervous system and makes you feel drowsy at bedtime, but it interferes with normal sleep patterns during the night and causes restlessness. Avoid using tobacco products and drinking beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol in the afternoon or evening. They can create a vicious cycle of poor sleep at night and an increased use of stimulants during the day to counteract the drowsiness from poor sleep.

Follow Bedtime Rituals If Working Night Shifts

Night shift work forces you to try to sleep when activities around you and your own "biological rhythms" signal you to be awake. One study shows that night shift workers are 2-5 times more likely than are employees with regular, daytime hours to fall asleep on the job because of poor sleep quality. If you work the night shift, speak with your employer about how to minimize the dangers of fatigue. Discuss your need for creating a sleep environment in the daytime with your family or those with whom you live. Try to keep a consistent schedule for sleep throughout the week, even on your days off. Make your daytime home environment conducive to sleep by keeping light out of the room you sleep in and minimizing external noise.

Create Good Sleep Habits and Environment

A distracting sleep environment, such as a room that is too hot or cold, too noisy, or too brightly lit can be a barrier to sound sleep. Interruptions from pets, children, or other family members can also disrupt sleep. Other influences may be the comfort and size of your bed and the habits of your bed partner. Try to create an environment that is restful by using shades to block light, and playing soothing music or “white noise” (such as a fan). Seek medical help for a partner who snores loudly, and consider separate sleeping arrangements.

Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine that will allow you to unwind and send a "signal" to your brain that it is time to sleep. Avoiding exposure to bright light before bedtime and taking a warm bath may help. Do not use your bed for anything other than sleep or sex. Your bed should be associated with sleep. Avoid “clock watching” after going to bed. Also, avoid drinking fluids just before bed.

Prepare for Jet Travel

Jet lag is the inability to sleep as a result of crossing many time zones in a short period of time. This can disturb your biological rhythms and deprive you of good sleep. To help minimize its effect, get a good night’s sleep before traveling, drink plenty of water, and avoid alcohol during the trip.

REFERENCES:

Buysse DJ. Insomnia. JAMA. 2013;309(7):706-716.

Healthy sleep tips. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Insomnia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/insomnia. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Insomnia in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114839/Insomnia-in-adults. Updated June 5, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Shift work and sleep. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/shift-work-and-sleep. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Jet lag. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/the-pre-travel-consultation/jet-lag. Updated June 13, 2017. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Shift work and sleep. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/shift-work-and-sleep. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Your guide to healthy sleep. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.pdf . Updated August 2011. Accessed March 7, 2018.

Last reviewed March 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Monica Zangwill, MD, MPH