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.
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.
Live Better by Paying Attention to your Insomnia Symptom
May 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under Sluggishness
Veronika Namesse asked:
The debate and controversy about insomnia have shown no signs of letting up. Common sense would tell you though that regardless of the true nature of insomnia, it pays to pay attention to your insomnia symptom.
Primary Insomnia
Experts are still debating the issue but some hold the opinion that insomnia may be a condition all on its own. This means that a person may be manifesting an insomnia symptom simply because he has insomnia.
Supporters of this theory contest that in some cases, looking at an insomnia symptom as a primary condition is essential to avoid relegating it to another theoretical condition. Subordinating an insomnia symptom may be a way of trivializing the condition. In such a case, primary insomniacs run the risk of not receiving proper care and attention. If you are certain that you do not suffer from any other medical condition, find a doctor who respects the possibility of insomnia as a primary condition.
Secondary Insomnia
The more common notion about the cause of an insomnia symptom is that a person is suffering from one because of a much serious underlying medical condition. This view has perhaps grown in popularity simply because it offers an explanation for insomnia whereas the causes of primary insomnia cannot be completely determined.
In secondary insomnia, you could be suffering from a major physical or psychological condition that could be causing the insomnia. A person for example with an anxiety disorder will normally manifest an insomnia symptom simply because of his worries and anxieties. Physical illnesses such as breathing disorders, sciatica, fibromyalgia and other painful conditions also cause insomnia because of the pain or discomfort that accompany such illnesses. Even a sleeping disorder like sleep apnea may naturally lead to an insomnia symptom.
Medication for Secondary Insomnia
A secondary insomnia symptom may be more difficult to treat than primary insomnia. Medication for a secondary insomnia symptom should be chosen carefully. Otherwise, an individual could end up suffering even more. The usual over the counter antihistamine for a simple insomnia symptom for example may not be safe medication for people with breathing disorders. Depressed individuals under medication may also end up more depressed after taking over the counter insomnia medication.
There have been many medical cases showing the alleviation of insomnia once the primary condition has been treated. Other individuals however may need insomnia medication together with the treatment for the primary condition. A doctor’s opinion in this case should always be sought if an individual feels that there is a need for insomnia medication.
A Good Night’s Sleep
Sleeping eight hours a night should not lead you into concluding that you are sleeping well and that you are free from insomnia. Some people sleep for eight hours or more and still wake up exhausted. This may be a sign that you are suffering from some form of insomnia. The best indication that you have had a good night’s sleep is if you wake up energized, can stay up for most of the day and can function properly.
The debate and controversy about insomnia have shown no signs of letting up. Common sense would tell you though that regardless of the true nature of insomnia, it pays to pay attention to your insomnia symptom.
Primary Insomnia
Experts are still debating the issue but some hold the opinion that insomnia may be a condition all on its own. This means that a person may be manifesting an insomnia symptom simply because he has insomnia.
Supporters of this theory contest that in some cases, looking at an insomnia symptom as a primary condition is essential to avoid relegating it to another theoretical condition. Subordinating an insomnia symptom may be a way of trivializing the condition. In such a case, primary insomniacs run the risk of not receiving proper care and attention. If you are certain that you do not suffer from any other medical condition, find a doctor who respects the possibility of insomnia as a primary condition.
Secondary Insomnia
The more common notion about the cause of an insomnia symptom is that a person is suffering from one because of a much serious underlying medical condition. This view has perhaps grown in popularity simply because it offers an explanation for insomnia whereas the causes of primary insomnia cannot be completely determined.
In secondary insomnia, you could be suffering from a major physical or psychological condition that could be causing the insomnia. A person for example with an anxiety disorder will normally manifest an insomnia symptom simply because of his worries and anxieties. Physical illnesses such as breathing disorders, sciatica, fibromyalgia and other painful conditions also cause insomnia because of the pain or discomfort that accompany such illnesses. Even a sleeping disorder like sleep apnea may naturally lead to an insomnia symptom.
Medication for Secondary Insomnia
A secondary insomnia symptom may be more difficult to treat than primary insomnia. Medication for a secondary insomnia symptom should be chosen carefully. Otherwise, an individual could end up suffering even more. The usual over the counter antihistamine for a simple insomnia symptom for example may not be safe medication for people with breathing disorders. Depressed individuals under medication may also end up more depressed after taking over the counter insomnia medication.
There have been many medical cases showing the alleviation of insomnia once the primary condition has been treated. Other individuals however may need insomnia medication together with the treatment for the primary condition. A doctor’s opinion in this case should always be sought if an individual feels that there is a need for insomnia medication.
A Good Night’s Sleep
Sleeping eight hours a night should not lead you into concluding that you are sleeping well and that you are free from insomnia. Some people sleep for eight hours or more and still wake up exhausted. This may be a sign that you are suffering from some form of insomnia. The best indication that you have had a good night’s sleep is if you wake up energized, can stay up for most of the day and can function properly.
