Sleep disorders: causes and treatments | BRIGITTE.de

Sleep disorders are a common problem. We'll tell you what causes insomnia and what works against it.

Insomnia – what is it?

Anyone who has difficulty falling or staying asleep at least three times a week for a period of one to three months suffers from a lack of sleep (insomnia). The sleep disorders can have more harmless, temporary causes, but also go back to diseases. Bad sleep not only affects your mood, but also your performance – therefore you should not wait too long before a treatment.

Sleep poorly: only temporarily or permanently?

Around a third of all Germans suffer from insomnia. Some sufferers lie awake for hours and cannot fall asleep, others have difficulty sleeping through the night and wake up all the time for no apparent reason. The mistakes that many people make: They take their poor sleep for granted or try to get their symptoms under control with a sleeping pill. But Sleep aids in particular are not suitable for long-term use in people who have trouble sleeping through the night – That is why it is all the more important to fathom the causes of the sleep disorders and to remedy them with therapy.

Why is good sleep so important at night?

Besides those already mentioned Influences on our mood and performance There are other reasons why getting enough and good sleep is so important:

  • Our brain processes daily impressions while sleeping and stores new things in long-term memory. Disturbances in sleeping through the night prevent this
  • The body uses the sleeping time to regenerate: E.g. Chemical messengers released that break down the stress hormone cortisol, which prevents depression and burnout
  • During the deep sleep phase, defense cells are increasingly produced – these strengthen the immune system and protect against colds or shorten them
  • Sleep actually makes you beautiful: growth hormones repair damage to tissue cells, which tightens the skin
  • Fat is broken down from the cells during sleep! Even "slim in your sleep" is no coincidence – those who sleep too little tend to be overweight
  • Lack of sleep can promote diabetes, so if you don't want to become diabetic, make sure you sleep well

How much should i sleep

Research is constantly coming up with new results when it comes to the optimal length of sleep. Eight hours is often recommended, however how much healthy sleep you need varies from person to person. Some seven hours are enough, others just need eight. Ultimately, it simply depends on whether you feel fit after getting up and do not feel tired.

Causes of Sleep Disorders

Everyone has a restless night from time to time, for example because a lot happened during the day that is going on in your head or because you are a little tense because of the important presentation the next day. It becomes difficult when the sleep disorders last longer and interfere with everyday life. There are many reasons for this – these triggers often lead to sleep disorders:

  • Psychological complaints (e.g. stress, depressed mood)
  • Habits that inhibit sleep, such as lots of coffee, smoking, or alcohol
  • Poor sleeping environment (e.g. too much light, too warm or too cold temperature)
  • Disturbed sleep-wake rhythm (e.g. due to shift work or jet lag)
  • Certain medications
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Pain (e.g. joint pain or headache)
  • Increased urge to urinate and consequently going to the toilet at night (often at an advanced age)

Illnesses: even more reasons for insomnia

In rarer cases For example, teeth grinding, sleep apnea (breathing pauses) or restless leg syndrome (movement disorder of the legs) can also be the problem.

What helps against insomnia?

As long as physical illnesses can be ruled out for the sleep disorders, they can often be eliminated get to grips with it with simple tips. How to find your way back to sleep more easily:

  • Lavender: The scent of lavender soothes and relaxes. Simply put a drop of lavender oil on a cloth and place it next to the pillow to relieve sleep disorders
  • Tea: Valerian and hops in particular are known to help you fall asleep. However, the tea must be drunk regularly and for several weeks in order to be effective
  • Technology: Cell phones and the like have no place in the bedroom, as the blue wavelengths of the light emitted by these devices can disrupt sleep. Better: switch everything off at least two hours before going to bed (including the TV) and read a book relaxed
  • Temperature: Most people sleep best at a room temperature of 15 to 18 degrees

You can find even more help for healthy sleep in the article "Fall asleep better" and in our tips for falling asleep. In addition, we reveal everything about calf cramps, difficulty sleeping through the night, causes of sleep disorders and night terrors.

Video tip: 6 tips for a good night's sleep