Insomnia Treatment Options
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep or poor sleep quality. People with insomnia often take 30 minutes or longer to fall asleep, wake frequently during the night, are awake for long periods at night or have a dream “non-restorative”, not the cool. The symptoms of insomnia at night could result in a major stress for those who suffer, as it can spend hours rolling around in bed.
Insomnia is associated with impaired daytime functioning. People with insomnia often report fatigue and daytime sleepiness that interferes with their lives. Symptoms may be so severe that those suffering from insomnia can not engage in productive activities or feel temporary relief comes after you retire to a quiet place to nap.
The sleepless nights affect family, social and working life. People with insomnia report more difficulty coping with stress less, and more problems interacting with others in society and the workplace than those who do not suffer from insomnia. A study has shown that the “quality of life” for people with insomnia is significantly lower than those without sleep problems.
The problems associated with insomnia affect daytime functioning really. People with insomnia are more affected his mental functions that healthy sleepers, including problems with attention, concentration and memory. They are also at higher risk for accidents or injuries due to fatigue. Research data have shown that people with insomnia have 2 ½ times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident related to the fatigue that healthy sleepers and 4 times more likely to be involved in an accident that those who sleep healthy.
A survey by Louis Harris organization found that people with insomnia report more problems at work than those who do not suffer from insomnia. There are significant decreases in both quality and quantity of work in the days after a night of bad sleep. These findings are consistent with other data showing that people with insomnia have higher rates of absenteeism from work and are less likely to be promoted than healthy sleepers.
One of the most worrying findings about insomnia is that it could be a factor in the onset of depression. Several studies have shown that an episode of insomnia that occurs early in life can be prior to the onset of depressive symptoms later. Insomnia may have other health consequences, such as an alteration in glucose metabolism or an increased risk of heart disease, although studies are underway to further examine these relationships.
Insomnia may be a transient problem that occasionally occurs, or may be a more chronic disorder that occurs most or all night. About 36 to 56% of the adult population of the United States declares to have sporadic problems with insomnia, while between 9 and 17% report sleep problems long-term or chronic. Whatever the case, those suffering from insomnia can tell when the problem is causing tension at night or interfere with daytime functioning. Even an occasional night of poor sleep can be serious when it occurs at the wrong time.
What causes insomnia? Several factors contribute to the occurrence or persistence of insomnia. These factors include stress, medical problems (eg. Pain, arthritis), psychiatric problems (eg., Depression), medications (eg. Stimulants, beta blockers and some antidepressants), alcohol and drugs or environmental problems. Insomnia may also be due to underlying sleep disorders like sleep apnea, restless legs or periodic movement disorder of the members. Identifying the underlying cause of our sleeplessness may be important to find relief and can actually help to guide medical treatment. However, not all people with insomnia can easily identify an underlying cause.