Lying in bed for hours at a time despite working hard all day, waking up frequently at night, and then not being able to sleep—this is a major health problem experienced by a large number of people today. Scientifically, this condition is called insomnia. An adult needs to sleep comfortably for 7 to 8 hours a day to get proper rest for the body and brain. Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind losing sleep at night:
Lack of melatonin hormone and blue light (Melatonin Suppression): Melatonin, a hormone that sends a message to our body that it is night and it is time to sleep, is produced by the pineal gland in the brain. This hormone is produced more in a dark environment. But when we use mobile phones, TVs, and laptops at night, the blue light emitted from them reaches the brain through the eyes and misleads us into thinking that it is daytime. This disrupts melatonin production and disrupts sleep.
Severe stress and cortisol: Stress at work, financial difficulties, or overthinking increase the body’s levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones increase the heart rate and keep the brain in a hyperarousal state. This prevents the body from going to a restful state, resulting in severe sleep deprivation.
Poor diet and caffeine use: Eating heavy meals late at night can cause indigestion and acid reflux. Heartburn can make it difficult to fall asleep. In addition, caffeine, which is found in black tea, coffee, and energy drinks consumed in the evening or at night, blocks the sleep-inducing chemical ‘adenosine’ in the brain and keeps the body awake for 6 to 8 hours, preventing it from sleeping.
Irregular Sleep Schedule: Going to bed at different times every day and the shift patterns of people working in the IT sector and others disrupt the body’s natural biological clock (Circadian Rhythm). Taking long naps during the day can also adversely affect the natural sleep at night.
Other physical and mental illnesses (Medical Conditions): Chronic body pain, asthma, thyroid disorders, and chronic depression can disrupt sleep. In addition, people with sleep apnea, a condition that causes breathing problems during sleep, can wake up suddenly at night due to a lack of oxygen to the brain.
