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| on a daily basis, however, can lead to withdrawal symptoms including headache and sleeplessness at night. If caffeine is ingested too close to bedtime, its stimulating properties can also interfere with sleep. Caffeine is also known to cause an increase in palpitations, stomach problems, diarrhea and restless leg syndrome in certain individuals. |
| Alcohol is commonly used by people to help them get to sleep. While this may appear to be a good thing to do, it eventually leads to further trouble. In addition to causing a dependency state, alcohol also disrupts the normal pattern of brain activity during sleep. While its sedative and calming effects help people get to sleep at first, it tends to produce increased nighttime awakenings and reduces certain types of brain activity which are needed for proper rest. |
| In addition to looking at any medications or insomnia-producing substances you may be currently using, also consider any medicines you may have recently stopped. Sometimes disturbed sleep begins shortly after stopping a medication you've been taking for quite some time. For example, people who suddenly quit smoking often find that their sleep is disturbed. Withdrawing from alcohol, sleeping pills or psychiatric medications can also produce temporary insomnia. Sometimes a more gradual tapering down of these agents will prevent this type of insomnia from occurring, so it is best to consult with your physician if you think this factor might be involved. |
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