Insomnia: Common Medical Conditions That Contributes It

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is defined as “difficulty in falling or maintain the sleep or non-refreshing sleep”. 

Insomnia is a most common disorder in general population and old age. The causes of insomnia are diverse. It includes psychiatric or neurological disorders,medical disorders, substance use disorder, change in environment, side effects of medication, etc. 

Here is a list of common medical disorders that causes insomnia and their relevant symptoms which impairs sleep.

Congestive heart failure 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep:

• sudden shortness of breath awakening a person from sleep        
• difficulty in getting to lie down

Gastro - Esophageal Reflex Diseases:

Symptoms that impair the sleep: ·        

• heartburn worse while lying down or eating too close to bedtime       
• nocturnal cough

Chronic lung diseases like COPD, pulmonary hypertension and asthma 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep:

• coughing
• oxygen-desaturation
• shortness of breath

Coronary artery diseases:

• Symptoms that impair the sleep:  ·        
• chest pain at night 

Anemia

Symptoms that impair the sleep: ·        

• fatigue       
• poor sleep quality        
• restless legs

Dementia (Alzeihmers and Parkinson's diseases)

 

Symptoms that impair the sleep: ·        

 

• sleep disturbances with dementia-related sleep behaviors        
• cognitive decline        
• psychiatric symptoms like hallucination

Delirium

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• waxing and waning mental status
• disrupted sleep-wake cycles
• fluctuating psychotic symptoms

Post stroke

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• increase the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and increased daytime sleepiness

Obstructive sleep apnea

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• awakenings or arousals with apneic episodes
• daytime fatigue despite adequate time asleep

Pain due to arthritis, cancer, gout, neuropathy, fibromyalgia, musculo-skeletal injury

 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• delay in falling asleep
• frequent awakenings
• difficulty finding a comfortable position

Benign prostatic hyperplasia 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• excessive urination at night time
• urinary retention

Renal diseases 

Symptoms that impairs the sleep:

• excessive daytime sleepiness
• restless legs

Hormonal imbalance like thyroid or menopause

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• hot flashes, night sweats
• night timeawakenings
• daytime fatigue

Diabetes

Symptoms that impairs the sleep: 

• increased frequency of urination
• increased thirst and increased appetite
• fluctuating blood sugars episodes (Hyper and hypoglycemia)

In case you have a concern or query you can always Consult with the experienced psychiatrists in Jaipur & get answers to your questions!