What are some common causes of maintenance insomnia?

Common causes of maintenance insomnia include:

1. Psychological Factors: Stress, anxiety, and depression can lead to difficulty in maintaining sleep throughout the night. Individuals may struggle to fall back asleep if they wake up.

2. Physical Health Issues: Chronic pain, respiratory issues (such as asthma), and conditions like restless leg syndrome can disrupt sleep continuity.

3. Cortisol Levels: Elevated cortisol levels, often due to chronic stress, can cause awakenings during the night. Typically, cortisol should decrease in the evening, and abnormalities in this pattern can lead to insomnia 1.

4. Lifestyle Choices: Poor sleep hygiene, including irregular sleep patterns, excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption, and lack of physical activity, can contribute to maintenance insomnia.

5. Age-Related Changes: As individuals age, changes in sleep architecture and an increase in health issues can make it harder to maintain uninterrupted sleep.

Addressing these underlying causes is key to effectively managing maintenance insomnia.