Insomnia is the common and very frustrating sleeping disorder which stops you getting a good night’s rest and can cause sufferers to become irritable and listless during the day. There are a lot of good, sensible cures for this when the reasons for insomnia are things like lack of an established sleeping pattern or lack of exercise. However, some of the reasons for insomnia which are most difficult to stop and to treat need to be discussed with a medical professional. This article focuses mainly on these causes. While not all of the root causes are in themselves indicative of serious disorders they all fall into the category of disorders or situation which should be discussed with a qualified doctor, in order to reach a safe and satisfactory solution.

There are a number of medical conditions which can also be reasons for insomnia. Illnesses such as arthritis, heart disease and high blood pressure can all lead to sleepless nights. While the presence of insomnia should not be regarded as indicator of a serious illness it is also true that the illness can complicate any potential treatment of the sleeping disorder.

There are several well known sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea. In this instance the sufferer has difficultly maintain a steady breathing pattern while sleeping. Another of the commonly seen reasons for insomnia involves the involuntary twitching or jerking of the sleeper’s arms or legs.

Lack of quality sleep is a common complaint in women who are pregnant; the new mother’s hormonal changes allied to anxiety about the forthcoming birth and a new, uncomfortable sleeping position. While this may be relieved through breathing exercises and revised sleeping patterns there are many pregnant women who seek medical help because they cannot find a way to effectively treat the problem.

Another stage of a woman’s life where rest can be difficult to come by is during the menopause. In fact, as well as the menopause being one of the main reasons for insomnia the presence of a sleeping disorder is also one of the crucial factors which a doctor will use to establish that the lady in question is undergoing hormonal changes.

Another hormonal change is the decrease in the production of melatonin in the body. This is a naturally occurring substance which helps us sleep well but the amount released by our body reduces through time. By the time we reach the age of around 60 the amount produced by our system is very low, and this can be another of the main reasons for insomnia which is difficult to identify and subsequently treat.