The causes of insomnia vary from person to person, but common causes include stress, pain, depression or for unknown reasons. People who travel frequently may suffer what is called jet lag and their circadian clock, an internal mechanism that tells the body it needs rest, may be off causing a loss of sleep. This and short-term anxiety can cause transient insomnia which can last from one night to a few weeks. Acute insomnia can last from a few weeks to six months.

The most serious is acute insomnia, which can cause the loss of sleep every night for at least a month. Medical professionals will attempt to determine the cause for the lack of sleep and cure the underlying cause. An overactive mind or some type of physical pain is generally associated with transient insomnia.

Lack Of Sleep Not Limited To Gender

It has been estimated that at least 60 percent of American suffer from transient insomnia, with up to 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men having trouble sleeping on occasion. The common thought that as a person ages their need for sleep lessens is disregarded by most sleep disorder specialists. They say that across the board Americans get an average of seven hours of sleep each night while doctors recommend seven to 10 hours.

There are some who confuse poor quality sleep, such as sleep apnea, with insomnia, which causes people to have trouble breathing while they sleep. This causes them to wake up numerous times throughout the night and most times they do not know they are awake. All they know is that they are extremely sleepy throughout the day. Sleep specialists can determine this cause and help find a remedy to enable the person to sleep soundly throughout the night.

In very rare cases, a hereditary illness called fatal familial insomnia will cause a person to totally be unable to sleep, usually resulting in death within about two years following onset of the problem. There is no known cure for this ailment, which can easily be passed to subsequent generations.