THINGS THAT CAUSE INSOMNIA

- Stress and the hormones it releases, cortisol and adrenaline, are major causes of insomnia. Cortisol naturally rises and falls in concert with the circadian rhythm, but a bad day at work, a difficult relationship, or even staring at an electronic screen for hour.

- Some medications can prohibit sleep, including various antidepressants, allergy treatments, corticosteroids and blood pressure medications. Many over the counter pain medications, decongestants and weight loss pills contain caffeine, which can also block sleep.

- We all know that caffeine keeps us awake but alcohol increases the slow wave sleep so you wake up around 2:00am or 3:00am. Eating poorly can also cause insomnia.

- Hormonal fluctuation can disturb sleep on its own, but add in hot flashes and night sweats and you can forget about getting a good night sleep. Some experts believe that shifting estrogen levels can affect how much melatonin our bodies make and how we respond it.

- Poor sleep hygiene is a common factor when it comes to insomnia. Many of our pre-bedtime routines involve bright lights, loud noises, exposure to electronics, rushing to finish chores, and staying up past the point of feeling tired.