What should you know about sleeplessness causes?

Short-term trouble sleeping may follow travel, shift work, illness, worry or a change at home. Ongoing insomnia involves difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early with effects during the day. Acid reflux may disturb sleep with burning or an acid taste. Anxiety and depression can alter thoughts, mood and sleep timing; burnout may leave you exhausted but unable to switch off. Snoring, pauses in breathing or morning headaches can point towards obstructive sleep apnoea. A racing heart, tremor, heat intolerance or unexplained weight change merits assessment for hyperthyroidism.

Keep a simple sleep diary recording bedtime, waking, naps, caffeine, alcohol, medicines, symptoms and daytime alertness. Wake at a consistent time, use the bed for sleep, dim bright light before bed and keep the room comfortable. Review new medicines with a clinician rather than stopping them yourself. If worry or low mood is prominent, mention it directly; treating the underlying problem can improve sleep.

Arrange an appointment when sleeplessness continues, affects concentration or mood, or is accompanied by loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses, reflux, racing heartbeat or marked energy changes. Seek urgent help for thoughts of self-harm, severe confusion or several nights with unusually high energy and little need for sleep.

Ask which cause best fits your pattern, whether a medicine or health condition is contributing, and whether structured insomnia treatment or a sleep assessment would help.