Can't Sleep

Welcome to Can't Sleep

If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from sleep problems, then this website will provide you with beneficial information. Cantsleep.org has the answers to all of your sleep-related questions and will help you to recognize and seek treatment for various sleep disorders.

Read on to learn more about the most common sleep issues and how sleep aids can remedy them:

Why can't I sleep?

Lack of sleep is very distressing to most people. The human body functions best on seven or more hours of sleep per night, and those who suffer from insomnia or sleep disturbances often find themselves lacking in concentration, behaving irritably, and experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches.

There are several reasons why people sometimes find themselves unable to get a sufficient amount of sleep. This issue could be the result of emotional stress that makes it difficult to "turn off" one's thoughts at night, or the result of physical problems such as sleep apnea or other disorders.

Sleep disorders

The most prevalent sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy. Insomnia is characterized by difficulties in falling asleep or being able to stay asleep through the night. Some of its causes include depression, stress, anxiety, and medication side effects. Sleep apnea produces erratic breathing patterns as a result of a blocked upper airway.

People with sleep apnea can be suddenly awakened by breathing problems many times throughout the night. Restless leg syndrome most often develops in mid-to-late adulthood. It is characterized by pains in the legs and feet at nighttime and movements that interrupt sleep patterns. Narcolepsy, a disorder of the brain, leaves a person in a constant state of sleepiness during the day.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is an issue that can result in serious health problems. When the body's upper airway is partially or fully obstructed, sleep is disrupted by pauses in breath that can last anywhere from several seconds to a few minutes. People who suffer from sleep apnea can have their sleep cycles disrupted over 30 times in one hour. This is caused when the stopping and restarting of the breathing process shifts a person's sleep mode from deep to light.

The side effects of sleep apnea include extreme fatigue throughout the daytime and higher risks of irregular heartbeat, diabetes, elevated blood pressure, and stroke. Sleep apnea can be treated with breathing devices or surgery.

Sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation produces a variety of negative side effects that worsen the longer a person stays awake. Those who do not receive an adequate amount of sleep have difficulty functioning in routine daily activities such as work or school. The brain is affected through loss of memory, inability to concentrate, and an increase in hyperactivity.

The physical problems that are associated with sleep deprivation are muscle pain, weakening of the immune system, constipation, dull skin tone, and weight changes. When sleep deprivation continues for an extended period of time, it can result in serious psychological issues such as delusions, psychotic episodes, and major depression.

Sleep aids

Sleep aids can substantially improve both the quality and the duration of a person's sleep cycle. These aids are available in both prescription and non-prescription form. Prescription sleep aids can vary in function, with some primarily working to induce sleep and others helping to sustain sleep.

Examples of prescription medications that treat sleep disorders are benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics, non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics, and melatonin receptor agonist hypnotics.

Sleep aids that can be purchased over the counter contain an antihistamine that promotes tiredness in those who suffer from insomnia. These medicines contain ingredients such as doxylamine and diphenhydramine.