When sleep does not come & What disrupts sleep
Lesson 1 · 5 min
Based on MedlinePlus en español — Insomnia. Original educational summary, read by a medical doctor and confirmed reliable, pending formal approval. Not medical advice.
Learning objectives
- Explain when sleep does not come.
- Explain what disrupts sleep.
When sleep does not come
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in which a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or wakes too early and cannot return to sleep, despite having enough opportunity to sleep. Short-term insomnia lasts days or weeks and often follows stress or a upsetting event. Chronic insomnia occurs at least three nights a week for three months or more. Poor sleep leaves people tired, irritable, and less able to concentrate during the day.
What disrupts sleep
Stress is the most frequent trigger, but many factors contribute: irregular schedules, shift work, jet lag, caffeine and nicotine late in the day, alcohol, heavy meals before bed, and screens in the bedroom. Medical conditions such as pain, breathing problems, and frequent urination interrupt sleep, as do depression and anxiety. Some medicines disturb sleep. Insomnia becomes more common with age and is more frequent in women.
Key concepts
- When sleep does not come
- Insomnia is a common sleep disorder in which a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or wakes too early and cannot return to sleep, despite having enough opportunity to sleep.
- What disrupts sleep
- Stress is the most frequent trigger, but many factors contribute: irregular schedules, shift work, jet lag, caffeine and nicotine late in the day, alcohol, heavy meals before bed, and screens in the bedroom.
- Why sleep matters
- During sleep the body repairs tissues, consolidates memory, and regulates hormones that control appetite, stress, and growth.
- Sleep hygiene and treatment
- The first-line treatment for chronic insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, which changes the thoughts and habits that perpetuate poor sleep.