Facts About Insomnia

Knowing facts about insomnia will help you to determine if you could be suffering from this illness. Insomnia is a sleep disorder and can only be properly diagnosed by a doctor. Most people have an idea about what insomnia is, but many don't realize how serious of an illness it can be.

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According to the American Insomnia Association, insomnia is defined as a chronic problem of being unable to fall asleep or having difficulty staying asleep. About a third of the population will face insomnia on an occasional level. Ten percent of people will have chronic insomnia, which is often defined as someone who has trouble sleeping for more than three nights out of the week on a regular basis.

Here are some quick facts you should know about insomnia:

• Insomnia may be the sole problem you face or it could be a symptom of a larger problem.
• Stress is a key cause of insomnia in many patients. Persistent exposure to stress can lead to insomnia. Counseling and stress reduction are the best methods for overcoming insomnia in this case.
• Learned insomnia is a type of insomnia caused by over analyzing and worrying about not being able to sleep. People who try very hard to sleep, often don't. In these situations, people may fall asleep better when their habits change, such as sleeping in an unfamiliar bed.
• Stimulants, including the use of alcohol, nicotine or some types of non prescription drugs, can keep you awake. Avoid taking them several hours prior to bedtime.
• Insomnia can be linked to psychiatric problems especially for those who wake up earlier than they desire to do so. Insomnia is often linked to depression. Psychiatric treatment can help elevate symptoms.

Anyone struggling to get to sleep could be battling insomnia when this happens more than one night per week. Yet, chronic sufferers of insomnia should seek medical attention since insomnia is also linked to some medical conditions. Symptoms of insomnia range from person to person, but common symptoms include the following:

• Inability to fall asleep
• It takes longer to fall asleep
• Trouble waking up in the morning
• Waking up too early in the morning and being unable to go back to sleep
• Difficulty staying asleep through the night
• Waking several times at night
• Feeling tired after waking up
• Irritability, mood swings
• Problems remembering

The symptoms of insomnia can come from several aspects, but fall into one of two categories:

• Primary Insomnia: Primary insomnia is caused by outside sources, not your health problems or other problems.
• Secondary Insomnia: Individuals suffering from secondary insomnia have insomnia that is caused by other problems including health problems like Parkinson's disease, asthma, cancer, heartburn, depression or others, from pain, or from medication.

When you look at the facts of insomnia, you may notice many of the symptoms and causes of insomnia can be controlled. By making lifestyle changes and getting help for other problems, you can overcome insomnia.

• Reduce the amount of stress you have through either developing better coping methods or improving the problem.
• Emotional problems leading to insomnia may require psychiatric treatment.
• Don't drink alcohol, caffeine or smoke prior to bedtime. Choose relaxing activities prior to going to bed.
• Talk to your doctor about medications that could be causing insomnia, especially those used to treat arthritis, depression, and cancers. Alternatives may be available to reduce the affect.
• Set a normal sleep cycle. Those who sleep erratic hours often face insomnia.
• Improve the environmental factors in your life such as reducing noise and light and by improving the temperature comfort level.

Insomnia sufferers may need treatment for insomnia. It only takes an appointment with your family doctor to get the process started. Doctors may prescribe medications for insomnia. Psychiatric treatment may be necessary to overcome emotional and other psychiatric causes of insomnia.

Many patients who learn the facts about insomnia and then seek out medical attention for their chronic insomnia are able to overcome the condition and get back to sleeping well at night.

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