Insomnia

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Chronic insomnia may be caused by a medical or psychiatric cause. Some common causes of chronic insomnia include:

Psychiatric illness, especially depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Chronic medical illnesses, especially kidney disease, heart failure or asthma
Painful illnesses, especially arthritis, neuropathy, acid reflux, or cancer
Hormone imbalance, especially menopause or hyperthyroidism
Taking a prescription medication that has insomnia as a side effect
Obstructive sleep apnea - Snorers or people who are overweight may have repeated episodes in which breathing stops for 10 seconds to 30 seconds during sleep, just when you are relaxing into deep sleep. Sleep apnea is most often caused by relaxing of the tongue and throat tissues, if they settle into a position that closes your airway. Your body reacts to sleep apnea by releasing adrenaline-like â€œalarmâ€ hormones so you will awaken and resume breathing. These hormones keep you awake for periods of the night and can also cause high blood pressure that lasts through the day.
Narcolepsy - In this condition, the patient's sleep is disturbed at night, but he or she falls asleep suddenly and involuntarily during the daytime
Restless legs syndrome - This disorder causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs. Symptoms can include twitching of the legs, a habit of repetitive leg movements, or leg cramps.

An estimated 25% to 33% of people in the United States have some form of insomnia. Sleeping pills are usually not the best way to correct an insomnia problem, but they are among the most prescribed medicines in the United States. Women are affected more often than men, especially women older than age 60.