Insomnia

Insomnia, or sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder in which there is an inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep as long as desired or the perception of poor quality sleep.. It is estimated that 30%-50% of the general population are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia.

Types of insomnia;

Insomnia is generally classified based on the duration of the problem.

1- Transient insomnia;  lasts for less than a week. It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, severe depression, or by stress.

2- Acute insomnia; symptoms remain between one to three weeks generally less than a month.

3- Chronic insomnia; It may lasts for longer than a month. It can be caused by another disorder, or it can be a primary disorder itself.

           There are three types of insomnia on the basis of the sleep disturbance time:

1- Initial sleep difficulties:

In this condition people difficulty falling asleep when they first go to bed.

2- Intermediate sleep difficulties:

You fall asleep when you first go to bed, but awaken in the middle of the night. Once awaken then it could be difficult to return to sleep.

3- Early morning awakening:

In this condition person sleep throughout the night, but awaken much earlier than normally would, and feeling  sleepy.

Causes;

        Some important causes are;

1- Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, moving)

2- Illness; both psychological and physiological.

3- Emotional or physical discomfort such as pain or irritation

4- Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures

5- Some medications can also cause insomnia.

Symptoms;

        People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:

1- Difficulty falling asleep

2- Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep

3- Waking up too early in the morning

4- Feeling tired upon waking

5- Sleepiness during the day

6- General tiredness

7- Irritability

8- Problems with concentration or memory

Diagnosing of Insomnia;

If you think you have insomnia, talk to your health care provider. An evaluation may include a physical exam, a medical history, and a sleep history.  When a person has trouble getting to sleep, but has a normal sleep pattern once asleep, a circadian rhythm disorder is a likely cause.

Insomnia represents a significant risk for the development of a subsequent psychiatric disorder.

Treatment;

It is important to identify or rule out medical and psychological causes before deciding on the treatment for insomnia.

Acute insomnia may not require treatment. Mild insomnia often can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits.

Treatment for chronic insomnia includes first treating any health problems or some psychological issues that are causing the insomnia. Behavioral approaches help you to change behaviors that may worsen insomnia and to learn new behaviors to promote sleep. The strategies include attention to sleep hygiene, stimulus control, behavioral interventions, and relaxation therapy.

Many insomniacs rely on sleeping tablets and other sedatives to get rest, with research showing that medications are prescribed to over 95% of insomniac cases but pharmacological treatments have been used mainly to reduce symptoms in acute insomnia their role in the management of chronic insomnia remains unclear.

Prevention;

Prevention of sleeping disorder may include following steps;

1- Maintaining a consistent sleeping schedule (waking up and sleeping at the same time).

2- By avoiding caffeinated drinks during the 8 hours before sleeping time.

3- Some  exercises are also essential they can aid the process of sleeping.

4- Shift workers should stress the importance of good sleep habits with regular bedtime and awakening.