Overview

Everyone has trouble sleeping once in a while. Dogs barking, the wind howling, or overeating may make it hard for you to sleep. But sleep problems may be a symptom of a medical or mental health problem. Think about whether a medical or mental health problem is causing you to sleep poorly. Treating a long-term sleep problem without looking for the cause may hide the real reason for your poor sleep.

Sleep problems can have many causes.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common sleep problem that can affect your quality of life. It can cause you to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. You may wake up during the night or wake up too early in the morning.

Short-term insomnia can last for days to weeks. It may get better in less than a month. Chronic insomnia is ongoing. It lasts at least 3 months.

Insomnia is linked to many things. A stressful event or a change in your usual habits can lead to short-term insomnia. Examples include a death in your family or loss of a job. Many medical conditions are linked to insomnia. Examples include anxiety, chronic pain, depression, and sleep apnea. Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines also may lead to insomnia. Your bedtime habits may also affect insomnia. Examples include drinking caffeine before bedtime, watching TV or using your phone in bed, and not keeping a regular schedule for bedtime and waking up.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is one of several sleep disorders. It refers to repeated episodes of not breathing during sleep for at least 10 seconds (apneic episodes). It usually is caused by a blockage in the nose, mouth, or throat (upper airways). When airflow through the nose and mouth is blocked, breathing may stop for 10 seconds or longer. People who have sleep apnea usually snore loudly and are very tired during the day. It can affect children and adults.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that has distinct symptoms. They include:

• Sudden sleep attacks. They may occur during any type of activity at any time of day. You may fall asleep while doing things like eating dinner, driving the car, or carrying on a conversation. These sleep attacks can occur several times a day. They may last from a few minutes to several hours.
• Sudden, brief periods of muscle weakness while you are awake (cataplexy). This weakness may affect specific muscle groups or may affect the entire body. It's often brought on by strong emotional reactions, such as laughing or crying.
• Hallucinations before falling asleep.
• Brief loss of the ability to move when you are falling asleep or just waking up (sleep paralysis).

Parasomnias

Parasomnias are undesirable physical activities that occur during sleep. They involve skeletal muscle activity, nervous system changes, or both. Night terrors and sleepwalking are two types. Sleep can be hard for people who have parasomnias. While "asleep," the person may walk, scream, rearrange furniture, or eat things that are not normally eaten.

Parasomnia can cause odd, distressing, and sometimes dangerous nighttime activities. These disorders sometimes have medically explainable causes. They may be able to be treated.

Restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that produces an intense feeling of discomfort, aching, or twitching deep inside the legs. Jerking movements may affect the toes, ankles, knees, and hips. Moving the legs or walking around usually relieves the discomfort for a short time.

The exact cause of RLS isn't known. The symptoms most often occur while a person is asleep or is trying to fall asleep. The twitching or jerking leg movements may wake the person up. This can cause insomnia, unrestful sleep, and daytime sleepiness.

Excessive daytime sleepiness

When a sleep problem or lack of time keeps you from getting a good night's sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness may occur. While almost everyone has daytime sleepiness from time to time, it can cause serious problems. It can lead to car crashes, poor work or school performance, and work-related accidents.

Talk to a doctor if you're sleepy during the day and this gets in the way of the normal things you do. Do not drive or use machinery while you're drowsy.

Self-Care

How much sleep a person needs varies from person to person. The number of hours you sleep and how you feel when you wake up are both important. If you don't feel refreshed, you probably need more sleep.

Experts recommend that adults get at least 7 or more hours of sleep per day. Children and older adults need more sleep.

Here are some things you can do to help you get the sleep you need.

• Have a bedtime routine. For example, have a set bedtime, read a little before bed, and keep your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet.
• Avoid activities that might keep you from a good night's sleep. For example, limit naps during the day. Try not to smoke or drink alcohol. And avoid drinking or eating caffeine at least 6 hours before bedtime.
• If you can't get to sleep and are still awake within about 20 minutes, get up and read in dim light or do a boring task until you feel drowsy. Avoid lying in bed and thinking about how much sleep you're missing. And try not to use your TV, computer, smartphone, or tablet while you are in bed.

If you have several nights of trouble sleeping, review all of your prescription and nonprescription medicines with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help you find out if the medicines you take could be the cause of your sleep problem.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

• Feeling very tired or having a hard time functioning during the day.
• Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

Learn more

Preparing For Your Appointment