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It is estimated that about 1 in 3 people today have insomnia ranging from mild to severe. If you’re one of those people, a possible reason why you continue to suffer from insomnia is that you don’t know why you have it. Before you can treat your insomnia, first you need to be aware of its underlying causes, and the most common include:

• Chronic body pain

Recurring pain is one of the leading causes of insomnia. Aches stemming from back issues, arthritis, rheumatism, fibromyalgia, and other conditions cause discomfort that can prevent you from falling asleep.

Add to that the fact that everyone has different thresholds for pain. Some have a high tolerance for it, while others may have a tougher time handling it -- and it is usually the latter who suffer from insomnia.

• Clinical depression, anxiety, and stress

According to popular health and medical website WebMD.com, around 80% of people who are clinically depressed are also insomniacs.

When you’re feeling anxious, stress, or depressed, your mind races and becomes restless. All your worries at work as well as your personal life tend to creep up on you at night and make it difficult for you to sleep.

• Sleep disorder

Sleep apnea is of the most prevalent sleep disorders today. It causes interruptions in breathing while sleeping. In order to get enough oxygen to sustain yourself, your body wakes itself up to breathe.

• Daily habits

What you eat or drink during the day affects your ability to sleep at night. Caffeinated drinks are the primary culprit here, because their effects can last longer than you anticipate.

• Medications

Some drugs like anti-inflammatory steroids, antidepressants, and pain relievers may be responsible for keeping you up at night. They interfere with sleep by disrupting your body’s production of melatonin, which is responsible for regulating your normal sleep/wake cycle.

Want to learn more about sleep cycle? Here is an article on understanding different stages of our natural sleeping cycle.

How to beat insomnia

Now that you’ve (hopefully) figured out the cause, you can start taking steps to beat your insomnia. Here are six ways you can do it.

• Get warm.

Heat therapy has long been employed to treat chronic body pain. Products like heating pads, heating cushions, and electric blankets can actually help you sleep better by soothing your pain.

• Manage your stress and anxiety.

Before you sleep, you should take time to relax and free your mind from any worries. Don’t think about problems at work or with your personal life. Instead, focus on thoughts that make you happy, like an approaching vacation abroad or even something as simple as a new movie that you want to see.

• Deal with your depression.

It seems easier said than done, but the only way of getting through depression is by facing it. If you think you’re depressed, you should consider seeing a psychiatrist—a trained and licensed professional who can help you. Turning to one can be very beneficial to your mental health.

• Consult a sleep medicine expert.

If you think you might have some sort of sleep disorder, it’s important than you see a specialist immediately. There are doctors who specialise in sleep disorders and their corresponding treatments, and they’re the ones who can correctly diagnose what sleep disorder you have and prescribe the proper treatment for it.

• Control what you eat or drink during the day.

Sometimes, a simple adjustment in your daytime activities is what you need. If you’re a big coffee drinker, just make sure to avoid coffee at least six hours before your sleeping time.

• Lessen your dependence on medication.

As previously stated, certain medications impede your body’s melatonin production. Cutting back on medicines or stopping altogether, especially if it’s just colds or flu, will definitely help you sleep better because your body will be able to produce melatonin as normal.

From heating pads to electric underblankets, Wellcare has a wide range of products that will ensure your complete warmth and comfort. We also prioritize customer safety, so all our products are made using the finest quality materials available.

In addition, Wellcare products are equipped with the 4D Dynamic Warmth Flow (4D DWF) system. An innovation in heating technology, the 4D DWF system mimics your body’s breathing for even heat circulation throughout the product.

We understand insomnia feels terrible. Don't be afraid to sleep, try your best to relax and clear your mind. Creating a comfortable environment is one good way to battle insomnia. Click here to read on how a decent electric blanket can help you sleep better.