Insomnia – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
May 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under Alternative Medicine
peterhutch asked:
Insomnia is a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or “rest their mind” for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.
Insomnia Causes
The most common psychological problems include anxiety, stress, and depression. In fact, insomnia may be an indicator of depression. Many people will have insomnia during the acute phases of a mental illness.
Many people have insomnia. People who have insomnia may not be able to fall asleep. They may wake up during the night and not be able to fall back asleep, or they may wake up too early in the morning.
Insomnia contributes to excessive daytime tiredness, which in turn may be responsible for accidents, recurrent infections, poor concentration, irritability, work and relationship problems and a general inability to cope.
Anxiety, a condition in which individuals feel increased tension, apprehension, and feelings of helplessness, fear, worry, and uncertainty. This may be due to the effects that other people at work have on us, financial worries, concerns over relationships outside work or numerous other causes.
Symptoms
Insomnia symptoms may include:
Difficulty falling asleep at night
Waking up during the night
Waking up too early
Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
Daytime irritability
It’s common for older adults to sleep less deeply and for less time than they did earlier in life, and to experience fragmented sleep. However, these normal changes in the sleep patterns of older adults do not mean that they should expect inadequate rest and to awaken feeling unrefreshed.8 Routine poor-quality sleep due to health problems, medication use, and major life changes can lead to chronic sleep problems.
Diagnosis of Insomnia
Surprisingly, a sleep study is not routinely recommended for those complaining of insomnia. The reason is that when a sleep study is performed in someone suffering from insomnia, it does not generally give any new information; it simply confirms that the patient is having trouble sleeping. The best way to find the cause for insomnia is by careful history taking. Assessment of recent onset insomnia should focus on acute personal and medical problems.
Treatment
The treatment of insomnia depends on its cause and severity. If insomnia results from another disorder, treatment of that disorder may improve sleep. For most people who have insomnia, some simple changes in lifestyle, such as following a regular sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine after lunch time, can improve sleep.
In addition to daytime tiredness or fatigue, chronic insomnia can be associated with a complaint of compromised intellectual function, mood disturbance, or an increase in physical complaints (e.g., headaches and gastrointestinal problems). Beyond these outcomes, there is now considerable evidence that individuals with chronic insomnia have an increased risk of psychiatric illness (especially major depressive disorder) and substance abuse and there is mounting evidence that insomnia is associated with absenteeism from work, higher health care costs, and reduced quality of life.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy helps patients change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep. Treatment methods are often used in combination for increased effect.
You may find that if you are unable to fall asleep or wake up in the night, you spend a lot of time in bed trying unsuccessfully to sleep. If so, you may benefit from a sleep restriction program that initially allows only a few hours of sleep during the night. Gradually this time is increased until a normal sleep period is achieved.
Antihistamines
Diphenhydramine (for example, Sominex, Nytol) and doxylamine (for example, Unisom) are antihistamines that are currently marketed as OTC sleep aids. Diphenhydramine is the only agent that is considered to be safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration. The safety and effectiveness of doxylamine has not been evaluated adequately for FDA approval.
Insomnia is a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or “rest their mind” for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.
Insomnia Causes
The most common psychological problems include anxiety, stress, and depression. In fact, insomnia may be an indicator of depression. Many people will have insomnia during the acute phases of a mental illness.
Many people have insomnia. People who have insomnia may not be able to fall asleep. They may wake up during the night and not be able to fall back asleep, or they may wake up too early in the morning.
Insomnia contributes to excessive daytime tiredness, which in turn may be responsible for accidents, recurrent infections, poor concentration, irritability, work and relationship problems and a general inability to cope.
Anxiety, a condition in which individuals feel increased tension, apprehension, and feelings of helplessness, fear, worry, and uncertainty. This may be due to the effects that other people at work have on us, financial worries, concerns over relationships outside work or numerous other causes.
Symptoms
Insomnia symptoms may include:
Difficulty falling asleep at night
Waking up during the night
Waking up too early
Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
Daytime irritability
It’s common for older adults to sleep less deeply and for less time than they did earlier in life, and to experience fragmented sleep. However, these normal changes in the sleep patterns of older adults do not mean that they should expect inadequate rest and to awaken feeling unrefreshed.8 Routine poor-quality sleep due to health problems, medication use, and major life changes can lead to chronic sleep problems.
Diagnosis of Insomnia
Surprisingly, a sleep study is not routinely recommended for those complaining of insomnia. The reason is that when a sleep study is performed in someone suffering from insomnia, it does not generally give any new information; it simply confirms that the patient is having trouble sleeping. The best way to find the cause for insomnia is by careful history taking. Assessment of recent onset insomnia should focus on acute personal and medical problems.
Treatment
The treatment of insomnia depends on its cause and severity. If insomnia results from another disorder, treatment of that disorder may improve sleep. For most people who have insomnia, some simple changes in lifestyle, such as following a regular sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine after lunch time, can improve sleep.
In addition to daytime tiredness or fatigue, chronic insomnia can be associated with a complaint of compromised intellectual function, mood disturbance, or an increase in physical complaints (e.g., headaches and gastrointestinal problems). Beyond these outcomes, there is now considerable evidence that individuals with chronic insomnia have an increased risk of psychiatric illness (especially major depressive disorder) and substance abuse and there is mounting evidence that insomnia is associated with absenteeism from work, higher health care costs, and reduced quality of life.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy helps patients change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep. Treatment methods are often used in combination for increased effect.
You may find that if you are unable to fall asleep or wake up in the night, you spend a lot of time in bed trying unsuccessfully to sleep. If so, you may benefit from a sleep restriction program that initially allows only a few hours of sleep during the night. Gradually this time is increased until a normal sleep period is achieved.
Antihistamines
Diphenhydramine (for example, Sominex, Nytol) and doxylamine (for example, Unisom) are antihistamines that are currently marketed as OTC sleep aids. Diphenhydramine is the only agent that is considered to be safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration. The safety and effectiveness of doxylamine has not been evaluated adequately for FDA approval.
Insomnia Treatment and Causes: to Sleep or not to Sleep
May 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under Mental Health
Dr John Anne asked:
Are you having difficulty getting your sleep during the night? Are you feeling tired but just can not go to sleep? Do you feel like you are already transforming into an own that is very nocturnal? You may be suffering from insomnia.
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleeping disorder. Insomniacs are not able to fall sleep or not able to remain asleep for a reasonable amount of time. There are three types of insomnia, transient, acute and chronic. Transient insomnia could be caused by jet lag, short term anxiety or weariness during the day. This kind lasts from a night to a few days or weeks. Acute insomnia, on the other hand, is measured when the inability to sleep is already lasting for three to six weeks. Lastly, chronic insomnia, the most serious among the three, last for at least a month and become recurrent.
What Causes Insomnia?
As people grow older, the amount of required sleep could become lesser but this should not be mistaken as insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by one or more of the following. More women suffer insomnia than men because they are more susceptible to hormonal imbalances especially before menstruation or menopause. However, the most common cause of insomnia is psychological. Problems like fear, stress and anxiety, emotional and mental tension, work-related problems, financial stress and unsatisfactory *** life can cause insomnia.
Other causes of insomnia include addiction to psychoactive drugs or stimulants, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, methamphetamine and modafinil; disturbances in sleeping cycle or body clock like change of working shift or jetlag; excessive sleep at other times of the day.
Jet lag usually occurs in people who travels on multiple time zones because the internal concept of the body of time is being disturb. As such, it can cause insomnia as the body tries to adjust to another time zone.
History of traumatic brain injury and neurological disorders can also affect the sleeping patterns. Sleeping peels while it could take a person to deep sleep it could also cause rebound insomnia when excessively used. There is also a condition called parasomnia, which is also destructive to sleep. This condition is characterized by moving in response to nightmares, sleepwalking and violent reaction to dreams while sleeping.
Treatments for Insomnia
Though there are a lot of medications that are prescribed to treat insomnia, natural methods of overcoming the disorder is still most effective and could have no trace of side effects caused by drug use.
One effective treatment is organizing sleeping time or patterns. A person could set a definite time to sleep and practice sleeping or at least going to bed when the clock strikes at that time. Relaxation techniques like meditation and aroma therapy can also contribute in overcoming insomnia. Moreover, avoid sleeping during the day and sleep only at the time set.
In terms of using sleeping tablets and other sedatives, it is safer if it is taken with the advice of a physician. These kinds of drugs can also have psychological effects to patients and physical dependence. When taken for a long time, the patient may not be able to accept that he or she can sleep even without the help of drugs.
Antidepressants are also prescribed treatment for insomnia. They have sedative effects. Antihistamines, more than they can treat allergies, they are also good treatment for insomnia.
So do not let your sleeping patterns be a treat to your health. Sleep.
Are you having difficulty getting your sleep during the night? Are you feeling tired but just can not go to sleep? Do you feel like you are already transforming into an own that is very nocturnal? You may be suffering from insomnia.
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleeping disorder. Insomniacs are not able to fall sleep or not able to remain asleep for a reasonable amount of time. There are three types of insomnia, transient, acute and chronic. Transient insomnia could be caused by jet lag, short term anxiety or weariness during the day. This kind lasts from a night to a few days or weeks. Acute insomnia, on the other hand, is measured when the inability to sleep is already lasting for three to six weeks. Lastly, chronic insomnia, the most serious among the three, last for at least a month and become recurrent.
What Causes Insomnia?
As people grow older, the amount of required sleep could become lesser but this should not be mistaken as insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by one or more of the following. More women suffer insomnia than men because they are more susceptible to hormonal imbalances especially before menstruation or menopause. However, the most common cause of insomnia is psychological. Problems like fear, stress and anxiety, emotional and mental tension, work-related problems, financial stress and unsatisfactory *** life can cause insomnia.
Other causes of insomnia include addiction to psychoactive drugs or stimulants, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, methamphetamine and modafinil; disturbances in sleeping cycle or body clock like change of working shift or jetlag; excessive sleep at other times of the day.
Jet lag usually occurs in people who travels on multiple time zones because the internal concept of the body of time is being disturb. As such, it can cause insomnia as the body tries to adjust to another time zone.
History of traumatic brain injury and neurological disorders can also affect the sleeping patterns. Sleeping peels while it could take a person to deep sleep it could also cause rebound insomnia when excessively used. There is also a condition called parasomnia, which is also destructive to sleep. This condition is characterized by moving in response to nightmares, sleepwalking and violent reaction to dreams while sleeping.
Treatments for Insomnia
Though there are a lot of medications that are prescribed to treat insomnia, natural methods of overcoming the disorder is still most effective and could have no trace of side effects caused by drug use.
One effective treatment is organizing sleeping time or patterns. A person could set a definite time to sleep and practice sleeping or at least going to bed when the clock strikes at that time. Relaxation techniques like meditation and aroma therapy can also contribute in overcoming insomnia. Moreover, avoid sleeping during the day and sleep only at the time set.
In terms of using sleeping tablets and other sedatives, it is safer if it is taken with the advice of a physician. These kinds of drugs can also have psychological effects to patients and physical dependence. When taken for a long time, the patient may not be able to accept that he or she can sleep even without the help of drugs.
Antidepressants are also prescribed treatment for insomnia. They have sedative effects. Antihistamines, more than they can treat allergies, they are also good treatment for insomnia.
So do not let your sleeping patterns be a treat to your health. Sleep.
Insomnia Treatment and Causes: to Sleep or not to Sleep
gladys906 asked:
Are you having difficulty getting your sleep during the night? Are you feeling tired but just can not go to sleep? Do you feel like you are already transforming into an own that is very nocturnal? You may be suffering from insomnia.
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleeping disorder. Insomniacs are not able to fall sleep or not able to remain asleep for a reasonable amount of time. There are three types of insomnia, transient, acute and chronic. Transient insomnia could be caused by jet lag, short term anxiety or weariness during the day. This kind lasts from a night to a few days or weeks. Acute insomnia, on the other hand, is measured when the inability to sleep is already lasting for three to six weeks. Lastly, chronic insomnia, the most serious among the three, last for at least a month and become recurrent.
What Causes Insomnia?
As people grow older, the amount of required sleep could become lesser but this should not be mistaken as insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by one or more of the following. More women suffer insomnia than men because they are more susceptible to hormonal imbalances especially before menstruation or menopause. However, the most common cause of insomnia is psychological. Problems like fear, stress and anxiety, emotional and mental tension, work-related problems, financial stress and unsatisfactory *** life can cause insomnia.
Other causes of insomnia include addiction to psychoactive drugs or stimulants, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, methamphetamine and modafinil; disturbances in sleeping cycle or body clock like change of working shift or jetlag; excessive sleep at other times of the day.
Jet lag usually occurs in people who travels on multiple time zones because the internal concept of the body of time is being disturb. As such, it can cause insomnia as the body tries to adjust to another time zone.
History of traumatic brain injury and neurological disorders can also affect the sleeping patterns. Sleeping peels while it could take a person to deep sleep it could also cause rebound insomnia when excessively used. There is also a condition called parasomnia, which is also destructive to sleep. This condition is characterized by moving in response to nightmares, sleepwalking and violent reaction to dreams while sleeping.
Treatments for Insomnia
Though there are a lot of medications that are prescribed to treat insomnia, natural methods of overcoming the disorder is still most effective and could have no trace of side effects caused by drug use.
One effective treatment is organizing sleeping time or patterns. A person could set a definite time to sleep and practice sleeping or at least going to bed when the clock strikes at that time. Relaxation techniques like meditation and aroma therapy can also contribute in overcoming insomnia. Moreover, avoid sleeping during the day and sleep only at the time set.
In terms of using sleeping tablets and other sedatives, it is safer if it is taken with the advice of a physician. These kinds of drugs can also have psychological effects to patients and physical dependence. When taken for a long time, the patient may not be able to accept that he or she can sleep even without the help of drugs.
Antidepressants are also prescribed treatment for insomnia. They have sedative effects. Antihistamines, more than they can treat allergies, they are also good treatment for insomnia.
So do not let your sleeping patterns be a treat to your health. Sleep.
Are you having difficulty getting your sleep during the night? Are you feeling tired but just can not go to sleep? Do you feel like you are already transforming into an own that is very nocturnal? You may be suffering from insomnia.
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleeping disorder. Insomniacs are not able to fall sleep or not able to remain asleep for a reasonable amount of time. There are three types of insomnia, transient, acute and chronic. Transient insomnia could be caused by jet lag, short term anxiety or weariness during the day. This kind lasts from a night to a few days or weeks. Acute insomnia, on the other hand, is measured when the inability to sleep is already lasting for three to six weeks. Lastly, chronic insomnia, the most serious among the three, last for at least a month and become recurrent.
What Causes Insomnia?
As people grow older, the amount of required sleep could become lesser but this should not be mistaken as insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by one or more of the following. More women suffer insomnia than men because they are more susceptible to hormonal imbalances especially before menstruation or menopause. However, the most common cause of insomnia is psychological. Problems like fear, stress and anxiety, emotional and mental tension, work-related problems, financial stress and unsatisfactory *** life can cause insomnia.
Other causes of insomnia include addiction to psychoactive drugs or stimulants, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, methamphetamine and modafinil; disturbances in sleeping cycle or body clock like change of working shift or jetlag; excessive sleep at other times of the day.
Jet lag usually occurs in people who travels on multiple time zones because the internal concept of the body of time is being disturb. As such, it can cause insomnia as the body tries to adjust to another time zone.
History of traumatic brain injury and neurological disorders can also affect the sleeping patterns. Sleeping peels while it could take a person to deep sleep it could also cause rebound insomnia when excessively used. There is also a condition called parasomnia, which is also destructive to sleep. This condition is characterized by moving in response to nightmares, sleepwalking and violent reaction to dreams while sleeping.
Treatments for Insomnia
Though there are a lot of medications that are prescribed to treat insomnia, natural methods of overcoming the disorder is still most effective and could have no trace of side effects caused by drug use.
One effective treatment is organizing sleeping time or patterns. A person could set a definite time to sleep and practice sleeping or at least going to bed when the clock strikes at that time. Relaxation techniques like meditation and aroma therapy can also contribute in overcoming insomnia. Moreover, avoid sleeping during the day and sleep only at the time set.
In terms of using sleeping tablets and other sedatives, it is safer if it is taken with the advice of a physician. These kinds of drugs can also have psychological effects to patients and physical dependence. When taken for a long time, the patient may not be able to accept that he or she can sleep even without the help of drugs.
Antidepressants are also prescribed treatment for insomnia. They have sedative effects. Antihistamines, more than they can treat allergies, they are also good treatment for insomnia.
So do not let your sleeping patterns be a treat to your health. Sleep.
