Insomnia is a sleeping disorder. Individuals who suffer from this lack quality sleep and the quantity. Insomnia commonly leads to daytime sleepiness, lethargy, and a general feeling of being unwell both mentally and physically. Although it can affect people of any age, it is more common in adult females than adult males. The sleeping disorder can undermine school and work performance. It also leads to obesity, anxiety, and depression. It also raises the risk for chronic diseases.
Can’t sleep at night.
Types of Insomnia
The transient version occurs when the symptoms last for a few weeks. The acute version occurs when the symptoms last for several weeks. The chronic version lasts for months and sometimes even years. It is caused due to physical as well as psychological factors. It may be due to some recent occurrence or event.
Causes of Insomnia
1) Jet lag, job shift changes, high altitudes, environmental noise, and heat.
2) Psychological issues such as mood disorders, depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders.
3) Hormonal changes also cause insomnia. An adolescent becomes conscious of his/her body and becomes stressed and ultimately it leads to insomnia.
5) Studies have found that children with TVs, computers, video games, DVD players and mobile phones in their bedrooms also become a victim of this disease.
Caused by medication
1. Corticosteroids, which is used for treating allergies, arthritis, inflammation of the muscles and blood vessels causes insomnia.
2. Statins- this is used to treating high cholesterol level.
3. Beta blockers, which is used for treating hypertension and irregular heartbeat cause insomnia.
4. SSRI antidepressants, which is used for treating depression leads to insomnia.
5. ACE inhibitors, which is used for treating heart conditions cause insomnia.
6. Glucosamine, which is used for relieving joint pain and to reduce inflammation.
7. Apart from the medicines, people like: travelers, people who have frequent changes in the shifts, elderly people, drug users and menopausal women with mental disorder are likely to have the problem of insomnia.
Can’t sleep at night?
Symptoms of Insomnia
- Difficulty in falling asleep
- Waking during night
- Waking earlier in the morning
- Feeling tired even after sleeping
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Irritability, anxiety, depression
- Poor concentration and focus
- Increase in errors and accidents
- Tension headaches
- Difficulty in socializing
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Worrying about sleeping
- May not feel refreshed
Treating Insomnia
To treat the disease, a physical test may be conducted to look for conditions causing it. The doctors may also test for psychiatric disorders and drug or alcohol use. The person should consult a doctor after observing all the symptoms for a month or more. This should negatively affect the person or disturb their mood and performance.
A patient should maintain a diary to observe their sleep pattern. There are more sophisticated tests to check the cause of it, but that requires overnight sleeping to check the sleeping pattern. There is also a wrist-worn device which is worn by the patient on the wrist to check the sleep pattern and movement.How to treat Insomnia
1). Improving sleep routine, which includes not sleeping too much or too little, exercising daily, maintaining a regular sleep schedule and not forcing sleep, avoiding caffeine at night, avoiding smoking, avoiding going to bed hungry, and ensuring a comfortable environment.
2). Do meditation and muscle relaxation.
3). Go for counseling or group therapy.
4). Avoid watching TV in bed or reading, eating also.
5). Avoid daytime naps.
6). Spend a shorter time in bed. And engage yourself in some activity all day long. This should make you more tired.
7). People also take sleeping pills, antidepressants, antihistamines, melatonin etc for sleeping well during the night.
Now that you have read all about the disease, you should take all the necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from this disorder.