Some typical behavior and medical issues are the main triggers for short-term insomnia. Short-term insomnia, also known as acute or transient insomnia, occurs among people who are suffering from medical conditions like allergies of sorts, heart disorders, thyroid, body aches and blood pressure. These conditions demand regular dosage of medicines to eliminate their propagating conditions inside the body. The side effects of umpteen medications lead to the deprivation of sleep among patients. Apart from medicines, stress, exposure to environmental hazards, extremities in temperature and sudden change in the habituating environment are other common stimulants of short term insomnia. This form of sleep disorder lasts for a couple of days only. Thus, it does not require any medical intervention for its cure.

Chronic insomnia occurs due to the combination of multiple factors that pertain to both mental and physical inabilities. Some medical conditions have been blamed as the major cause of insomnia. These conditions are kidney diseases, asthma, sleep apnea, Hyperthyroidism, Parkinson's disease, and Narcolepsy. In addition, behavioral factors like excessive consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine rich beverages, lead to difficulties in sleep.  Further, disrupted work schedules, stress factor mental turbulences and enough sleeping during afternoons also lead to sleep disorders like insomnia.