Cures for Insomnia

May 10, 2011 by admin  
Filed under Diseases And Conditions

Juliet Cohen asked:


Insomnia, defined as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, is a common problem. Insomnia can occur in people of all ages. Most individuals just experience a night or two of poor sleep, but sometimes the sleep disturbance can last for weeks, months, or even years. Insomniacs typically complain of being unable to close their eyes or “rest their mind” for more than a few minutes at a time. Insomnia is most common among women and older adults. Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. Most people occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet lag or short-term anxiety. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months. Chronic insomnia is regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a month. Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time or another in their lives. Insomnia is a common problem that may be temporary or chronic. An estimated 30-50% of the general population are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia.

Most people over 70 need less than 6 hours sleep per night; and they tend to be light sleepers. Insomnia is a common problem that may be temporary or chronic. As many as one in 10 Americans have chronic insomnia, and at least one in four has difficulty sleeping sometimes. But that doesn’t mean you have to just put up with sleepless nights. Some simple changes in your daily routine and habits may result in better sleep. Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia. Chronic insomnia can lead to mental health problems such as depression, or misuse of alcohol or other medicines in order to gain sleep. Newborn babies can sleep for 16 hours a day, while children of school age need an average of 10 hours. Adults usually need, on average, 7 to 9 hours sleep a night. As we get older, its normal to need less sleep.

Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short-term or acute insomnia.Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep. Insomnia may cause problems during the day, such as tiredness, a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), intermittent (on and off), and chronic (constant). Insomnia lasting from a single night to a few weeks is referred to as transient. Insomnia may be a symptom of magnesium deficiency, or lower magnesium levels. A healthy diet containing magnesium, can help to improve sleep in individuals without an adequate intake of magnesium. Short-acting benzodiazepines or the newer hypnotic ‘Z medicines’ are the current preferred medicines for insomnia and are only available on prescription. Benzodiazepines are tranquillisers and are designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep.

Insomnia Treatment Tips

1. Using aromatherapy, including jasmine oil, lavender oil, Mahabhringaraj and other relaxing essential oils, may also help induce a state of restfulness.

2. Relaxation techniques such as meditation have been shown to help people sleep.

3. Traditional Chinese medicine has included treatment for insomnia.

4. A healthy diet containing magnesium, can help to improve sleep in individuals without an adequate intake of magnesium.

5. Melatonin has proved effective for some insomniacs in regulating the sleep/waking cycle.

6. Avoid or limit your use of caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas, chocolate), decongestants, alcohol and tobacco.

7. Exercise more often, but don’t exercise within a few hours before going to bed.

8. Behavioral treatments teach you new sleep behaviors and ways to make your sleeping environment more conducive to sleep.

9. Antidepressant trazodone (Desyrel) also may help with insomnia.

8. Avoid or limit tea, coffee, chocolate, and cold remedies containing caffeine.

9. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking as these are also stimulants.



What is Insomnia ?

May 10, 2011 by admin  
Filed under Diseases And Conditions

David Stevens asked:


Insomnia is a sleeping disorder whereby the person has the inability to fall asleep or the inability to remain asleep for a normal amount of time. People suffering from insomnia have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes for more than a few minutes at a time.

Insomnia means a poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following: difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep, waking up too early in the morning or unrefreshing sleep. It is a condition in which a person has trouble falling or staying asleep. Some people with insomnia may fall asleep easily but wake up too soon. Other people may have the opposite problem, or they have trouble with both falling asleep and staying asleep. The end result is poor-quality sleep that does not leave the person feeling refreshed when they wake up.

At least three types of insomnia exist: transient, acute, and chronic.

1. Transient insomnia lasts from one night to a few weeks. Most people occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet lag or short-term anxiety. If this form of insomnia continues to occur from time to time, the insomnia is classified as intermittent.

2. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months.

3. Chronic insomnia is regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a month.

Insomnia can affect any person, of any age, at any time in their life. While it is often a transient condition, many people experience chronic insomnia. When left untreated, insomnia can have many dramatic effects on the body, including physical, psychological and emotional. It is a very common health problem. It can cause excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of energy. Long-term insomnia can cause you to feel depressed or irritable; have trouble paying attention, learning, and remembering; and not do your best on the job. IT also can limit the energy you have to spend with friends or family.

Insomnia can be mild to severe depending on how often it occurs and for how long. Chronic insomnia means having symptoms at least 3 nights per week for more than a month. Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short-term or acute insomnia.

There are certain lifestyle habits that can lead to sleeplessness. Caffeine most commonly disrupts sleep. An estimated 10% of chronic insomnia cases result from substance abuse, especially alcohol, cocaine, and sedatives. One or two alcoholic drinks at dinner poses little danger of alcoholism and may help reduce stress and initiate sleep. But excess alcohol or alcohol used to promote sleep, however, tends to fragment sleep and can cause wakefulness a few hours later. It also increases the risk for other sleep disorders.

The good news is that there are different cures for insomnia these days that will help you to deal with this and eventually cure this. You will find various programs and courses online that you should be checking out so you can get help to start dealing with this disorder without delay.