Statistics show that sleeplessness is on the rise. According to Sleep Education, about one-third of us suffers from insomnia for brief periods of time while a full 10% have a chronic insomnia disorder that occurs at least three times a week.

Common symptoms include fatigue, poor memory, the inability to focus or concentrate, increased errors, and potentially fatal accidents. Lost time at work in the U.S. due to insomnia costs the workforce $63 billion a year!

Neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Helene Emsellem, M.D., director of The Center for Sleep and Wake Disorders in Chevy Chase, Maryland, tells Newsmax that with the demands of modern day living and the increased use of technology, many folks experience symptoms of insomnia, typically waking up after four hours and then being unable to get back to sleep.

"We live in a busy 24/7 'lit' world," she says. "We do not allow ourselves to physically and mentally wind down for sleep. Shutting off the laptop and rolling over to go to sleep simply may not work."

Here are five potential causes of insomnia:

1. Late dinners. You'd think that eating late at night would make your sleepy, but Dr. Emsellem points out that digestion is an "awake" process and not designed to occur during sleep. "Thus, it is more difficult to fall asleep on a full stomach," she says. Secondly, eating dinner too close to bedtime can increase your risk of acid reflux as you lay down. Give yourself at least two hours after eating your last meal of the day to hit the sack.
2. Rapid transit insomnia. Turn off the electronics and try a 15-minute wind down ritual to help cue your body that you are switching modes from wakeful activities to restful sleep. A typical bedtime ritual can include a warm shower or bath in a room scented with lavender or another relaxing aroma. Listening to soothing music and doing gentle upper body stretches can help you unwind and relax can also help. "It's especially effective to release tension in the neck and upper body," says Emsellem.
3. Blue-light insomnia. Turn off all electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime because they emit a blue light that suppresses the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. The expert says you can buy orange or yellow tinted glasses that block most blue light if you wish to watch TV at night.
4. Alcohol-induced insomnia. While a glass or two of wine can help you relax and wind down, research shows that imbibing before bedtime has a rebound effect. You tend to wake up during the second half of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep. Limit alcohol to three hours before bedtime.
5. Prescription insomnia. Some medications can interfere with your sleep. For example, taking diuretics for blood pressure can make you urinate during the night more frequently. And antidepressants can be energizing or depressing, depending on the medication. Ask your doctor for suggestions on when to take your meds so that they don't interfere with sleep.

"Sometimes our sluggish symptoms are not the result of insomnia at all but are the result of not allowing enough time for sleep," says Emsellem. "The normal adult requires seven to nine hours of sleep so don't short change yourself."