What is insomnia? Insomnia, which is Latin for “no sleep,” is a common sleep disorder in which a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.Insomnia can be mild to severe and chronic or acute.People with insomnia often get little sleep or poor-quality sleep.
There are also two types of insomnia.One type of insomnia, secondary/comorbid insomnia is a symptom or side effect of another problem.The other type of insomnia, primary insomnia, is its own disorder and is not caused by an underlying problem.
What causes insomnia? Secondary insomnia is a symptom of another emotional, neurological, sleep, or medical disorder.It can also be the side effect of a medicine or substances such as caffeine and other stimulants, tobacco or nicotine products, alcohol, and sedatives..Secondary insomnia can also be caused by other conditions such as pain conditions, respiratory conditions, an overactive thyroid, gastrointestinal disorders, stroke, and menopause.
Primary insomnia is caused by life changes such as chronic stress and emotional upset.Also, changes in a person’s sleep routine can cause primary insomnia. What are symptoms of insomnia? The most notable symptom of insomnia is trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.People with insomnia may also take long to fall asleep, sleep for short periods of time, lay awake for most of the night, or wake up too early.People with insomnia can feel excessively tired during the day and lack energy.Other symptoms of insomnia include anxiety, depression, irritability, lack of focus, and trouble learning and remembering. Who is at risk for insomnia? One in three adults has an occasional bout of insomnia and one in ten adults has chronic insomnia.Women are at a higher risk for insomnia than men due to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.Insomnia can occur at any age, but it mostly occurs in older adults over age 60.African Americans also have a greater risk for insomnia compared to Caucasians because it takes African Americans longer to fall asleep and they also sleep lighter, don’t sleep as well, and take more naps.People who have a lot of stress, are depressed, have emotional distress, have a lower income, work at night, travel long distances that involve time changes, have an inactive lifestyle, or have a medical condition or sleep disorder that disrupts sleep are also at a higher risk for insomnia.
How is insomnia diagnosed? Insomnia is diagnosed through a person’s medical and sleep histories and a physical exam.A sleep study called a polysomnogram can also be used to help diagnose insomnia if the cause is thought to be another sleep disorder.
How is insomnia treated? Secondary insomnia is treated through lifestyle changes by stopping the cause of the insomnia.Lifestyle changes include such things as avoiding substances like caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and other stimulants, adopting a good bedtime routine to help relax beforehand, scheduling daily exercise about five to six hours before bedtime, limiting distractions in the bedroom, and establishing a good sleep schedule.It can also be treated through sleep restriction, which causes partial sleep deprivation and makes a person more tired, and by light therapy, which uses light to push back a person’s internal clock.
Chronic insomnia is can be treated with medicines or a type of counseling called cognitive-behavioral therapy.Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps a person to develop good sleep habits, relieve sleep anxiety, and establish a good sleep schedule.
Impact Insomnia impacts society because it can affect a person’s daily activities, including driving.Over 100,000 car crashes per year are caused by people that drive while feeling tired.It has been shown that insomnia also increases the risk of falling in older women.
Current research
Current research being conducted about insomnia involves the testing of investigational medications to help treat insomnia.
Insomnia, which is Latin for “no sleep,” is a common sleep disorder in which a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomnia can be mild to severe and chronic or acute. People with insomnia often get little sleep or poor-quality sleep.
There are also two types of insomnia. One type of insomnia, secondary/comorbid insomnia is a symptom or side effect of another problem. The other type of insomnia, primary insomnia, is its own disorder and is not caused by an underlying problem.
What causes insomnia?
Secondary insomnia is a symptom of another emotional, neurological, sleep, or medical disorder. It can also be the side effect of a medicine or substances such as caffeine and other stimulants, tobacco or nicotine products, alcohol, and sedatives.. Secondary insomnia can also be caused by other conditions such as pain conditions, respiratory conditions, an overactive thyroid, gastrointestinal disorders, stroke, and menopause.
Primary insomnia is caused by life changes such as chronic stress and emotional upset. Also, changes in a person’s sleep routine can cause primary insomnia.
What are symptoms of insomnia?
The most notable symptom of insomnia is trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. People with insomnia may also take long to fall asleep, sleep for short periods of time, lay awake for most of the night, or wake up too early. People with insomnia can feel excessively tired during the day and lack energy. Other symptoms of insomnia include anxiety, depression, irritability, lack of focus, and trouble learning and remembering.
Who is at risk for insomnia?
One in three adults has an occasional bout of insomnia and one in ten adults has chronic insomnia. Women are at a higher risk for insomnia than men due to menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it mostly occurs in older adults over age 60. African Americans also have a greater risk for insomnia compared to Caucasians because it takes African Americans longer to fall asleep and they also sleep lighter, don’t sleep as well, and take more naps. People who have a lot of stress, are depressed, have emotional distress, have a lower income, work at night, travel long distances that involve time changes, have an inactive lifestyle, or have a medical condition or sleep disorder that disrupts sleep are also at a higher risk for insomnia.
How is insomnia diagnosed?
Insomnia is diagnosed through a person’s medical and sleep histories and a physical exam. A sleep study called a polysomnogram can also be used to help diagnose insomnia if the cause is thought to be another sleep disorder.
How is insomnia treated?
Secondary insomnia is treated through lifestyle changes by stopping the cause of the insomnia. Lifestyle changes include such things as avoiding substances like caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and other stimulants, adopting a good bedtime routine to help relax beforehand, scheduling daily exercise about five to six hours before bedtime, limiting distractions in the bedroom, and establishing a good sleep schedule. It can also be
Chronic insomnia is can be treated with medicines or a type of counseling called cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps a person to develop good sleep habits, relieve sleep anxiety, and establish a good sleep schedule.
Impact
Insomnia impacts society because it can affect a person’s daily activities, including driving. Over 100,000 car crashes per year are caused by people that drive while feeling tired. It has been shown that insomnia also increases the risk of falling in older women.
Current research
Current research being conducted about insomnia involves the testing of investigational medications to help treat insomnia.