About 35% of adults claim that they have some form of insomnia occasionally and about 12% of these people claim to have severe insomnia. Insomnia complaints often increase with age and are more common in women.
Insomnia is not considered a disease but it is a condition of lack of correct, satisfying sleep. Someone with insomnia will generally have the sensation of daytime fatigue and impaired potential performance. Insomnia relates to the inability to sleep even though one is tired and can include waking up too early and having too fitful of a sleep leaving one tired upon waking. Insomnia can result in irritability, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and tiredness.
There are two generally recognized types of insomnia, acute and chronic. Both acute and chronic insomnia have many shared characteristics and a combination of symptoms may blur the actual lines.
Acute insomnia is often caused by physical or emotional discomforts that can usually be corrected fairly easily. Acute insomnia may be caused by stress, illness or disturbing loud noise, temperatures too high or low, or unacceptable light levels. Additionally, acute insomnia may be caused by jet lag or disturbances of the daily biological rhythm, such as the night shift.
Chronic insomnia is the more difficult insomnia to deal with and often is associated with many different factors either acting alone or in combination and often includes medical problems.
Chronic insomnia is often associated with medical, neurological and or psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders accounts for about 45% of the cases. Chronic insomnia can be associated with a variety of nonprescription drugs, prescription drugs and drugs of abuse.
There are many causes of insomnia and often an insomniac has more then one cause to blame for this condition. One of the main causes of insomnia are drugs. Some of the drugs associated with insomnia include stimulating antidepressants, steroids, decongestants, beta blockers, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and recreational drugs.
Anxiety and mood disorders can be the cause of insomnia, as well as medical problems such as pain, immobility, menopause, hormonal changes, and difficulty breathing.
Insomnia can be associated with specific sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, sleep apnea and circadian rhythm sleep problems. Additional causes of insomnia include poor sleep hygiene, poor sleep surfaces such as bad mattresses, hyper arousal, and behavioral conditioning.
Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS is a condition where the sufferer feels unpleasant sensations in the legs which are temporarily alleviated by moving around. Symptoms are increased during relaxed times and sleeping times. This makes it difficult to fall asleep.
Periodic Limb Movement Disorder describes jerking, rhythmic, repeated movements in the legs and lower extremities every 15 to 90 seconds. Sufferers who have this problem report having less refreshing sleep.
Sleep Apnea which is associated with snoring can cause sleeplessness and insomnia.
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders refer to a mis- match between when a person can sleep and when his body needs and wants to sleep.
Other causes of insomnia include poor sleep hygiene, stress, hyper arousal and negative behavioral conditioning.
Often acute insomnia (insomnia that lasts less than several weeks) may warrant some kind of medical intervention if you can not correct the problem yourself. This is important because good sleepers that suffer just a few hours of sleeplessness may become significantly sleepy during the day and be a danger to him self and others, especially during driving or operating equipment. There is also the danger that acute insomnia may develop into a learned chronic insomnia.
There are two basic approaches to the treatment of insomnia. Basically one approach is to use drugs and the other approach is behavioral.
Behavioral treatment includes correcting poor sleep habits and changing sleep beliefs and attitudes. Several of the therapies include relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, stimulus control therapy, and cognitive therapy.
Pharmacological therapy includes hypnotic medications, antidepressants, antihistamines, melatonin, and other drugs like barbiturates.
In conclusion, there are effective solutions to insomnia and sleep deprivation. The patient can do much to help themselves in this matter and the physician has many tools to aid in this. Improved sleep will help in your quality of life, and health both mental and physical.
Mitch Endick
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/how-too-tell-if-your-sleep-problem-is-insomnia-69245.html
Sleeping problems (insomnia)?
im looking for some real answer’s
i have trouble sleeping yet the docters my parents they all say the same because i have had no routine and because i have to much stuff to keep me ocupied in my room..
My mom told me that before i was born i was always more active in the night and alot quiter in the day even when i was a baby i was more active in the night
yet everyone remains convinced its because of the T.V’s and computers in my room i just want them to relize siting in your bed for hours on end unable to sleep is extremely boring and the only thing i can do at these hours are watch T.V or go on the computer…
ive done everything they said go to bed at the same time dont turn the T.v/computer on after 12 lay in your bed till you sleep i did this for 2 and a half weeks before i gave up and they still say the same rubbish.
in those 2 and a half weeks i i was falling asleep for about 3-4 hours every 2-3 days i cant fall asleep easy and alot of the time when i finaly start to doze off i just wake up or get that feeling of falling.
can ane1 give me a real answer or suggestion. i know that the stuff in my room isent the problem
by the way im not allowed to take sleeping pills the docter said i would get addicted to them and it would be to dangerous due to my age although my 16th birthday is 1 week of is 16 old enough ?
ive been told my mind is to active aswell but my worst on record so far is 5days with no sleep can a mind realy stay that active without sleep for that long ?
Hi there.
I’ve had problems all my life with sleeping and have never found an answer so know how you feel (4am and I’m on YA, work in 3 hours). Sometimes you go to bed and you’re knackered but you lie down and can’t go to sleep for hours.
Try to go to bed with a clear mind, IE if there’s anything that’s bothering you deal with it there and then then there’s nothing you’ll be worrying about once you are in bed. That helps but abviously is not a complete solution as I’m still awake.
References :
I had the same problem for many years.
Exercise during the day, AND keep to the routine thing that your doc and parents suggested.
Warm milk with honey in it is nice to help you get tired or chamomile tea is aswell.
Wake up in the morning at the same time everyday. Hope this helps and good luck
References :
I have a similar problem, except once I get to sleep its fine, I will sleep for 8+ hours if I want to. I have a problem getting to sleep.
The only thing I could think of that would help you would be to exercise during the day. This would tire you out easier therefore theoretically allowing you to get to sleep easier.
And you need to turn the TV at 10 because watching TV produces stimulant chemicals in the brain which stop you relaxing and going to sleep.
References :
Have herbal sleep tea. This doesn’t have any side effects, gives good sleep.
References :
http://www.internationaldrugmart.com/herbal-products/sleep-tea.html