Davion W asked:

Natural treatments for insomnia are slowly receiving acceptance from insomnia patients as a preferred choice of treatment for insomnia. Our generation has always been a generation that seeks for instant gratification and answers to our problems and needs. This has influenced our philosophy towards illnesses and diseases. We want quick fixes to our sicknesses. Unfortunately, a lot of these quick fixes such as over-the-counter and prescribed medicines and drugs for insomnia can only take care of our problems for a moment. Perhaps the answer we are seeking for our insomnia problems lie in natural treatments for insomnia.

Sleep is needed in order for our bodies to recover and rejuvenate. A recent studies conducted showed that as much as 20 percent of our adult population suffer from insomnia at different stages of their lives. Another staggering finding reveals that more than half of our elderly folks are experiencing difficulties in sleeping. Surely this makes the understanding of insomnia and its proper treatment important.

It is easy to obtain over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed medicines and drugs for insomnia. We may pop a sleeping pill or two on the days we find hard to fall asleep. But pill popping seems to have taken center stage in many homes as the number one method of treating insomnia. There are health risks and drawbacks in doing so. Antihistamines or benzodiazepines are often prescribed to treat insomnia. These drugs may be able to put you to sleep almost instantly but taking them regularly for a prolonged period of time could result in harmful side effects like drug addiction, withdrawal symptoms, disruption of natural sleep patterns and drug tolerance. People using OTC and prescribed medicines may suffer from side effects like blurring of vision, urinary problems, giddiness and abdominal problems.

Natural treatments for insomnia on the other hand tend to emphasize on curing the root causes of insomnia. Most of the time, they do not interfere with the natural sleep cycle but aids the body to respond and readjust to its natural sleeping patterns. Some foods, herbs and supplements have been used quite widely to improve sleep.

Changing your diet is a good step towards treating insomnia. An anti-insomnia diet is one of the best natural treatments for insomnia. Eating foods which are rich in tryptophan would help to improve sleep. Tyrotophan, an essential amino acid promotes production of melatonin a sleep-inducing hormone. Dairy products such as cheese and milk, poultry, whole grains, soy products such as tofu, soy bean milk, nuts such as peanuts and hazelnuts and eggs are all rich in tryptophan.

Foods high in carbohydrates are great sleepers. They prepare your body to enter into sleep faster. Honey, jam, spaghetti, pasta, chocolate, cakes, cereals and milk are all great sources of carbohydrates. But do remember to eat in moderation. For those who are more health conscious, peas and beans, vegetables and fruits are also good substitutes.

Herbs such as chamomile, mugwort, passion flower, valerian root, lemon balm, Siberian ginseng, spearmint, thyme and linden have been used as natural treatments for insomnia.

Cure your insomnia using effective natural treatments for insomnia revealed in my blog. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

The Content Group asked:

Insomnia affects approximately 30 per cent of all adults, to different degrees. That’s an overwhelming amount of people who are having trouble sleeping at night! Some suffer from severe insomnia, while others are affected to a much milder extent. Yet, not much is known about this common medical condition.

Being more informed and knowing the facts about insomnia-the definition, the different types, who it affects most-can make all the difference in managing and possibly getting rid of the condition for good.

A Misconception about Insomnia

Those who don’t know the facts about insomnia might be under the misconception that the condition is only used to describe people who can’t sleep at all. However, this is not the correct definition of the disorder.

Insomnia is defined as a condition wherein a person has difficulties with regards to his or her sleep patterns. This means that the term could be used to describe difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, or restlessness during sleep.

Who Gets Insomnia?

Though it is possible for anyone to get insomnia, the medical disorder is more common in certain groups than in others. Insomnia has been found to be more common in females than in males, especially after menopause. Additionally, one little known fact about insomnia is that the ability to sleep, not the need for sleep, decreases with age. Thus, insomnia is also more common in the elderly.

Two Types of Insomnia

Another fact about insomnia is that there are two main types, which is one reason why it affects people to various degrees. The two different categories of insomnia are primary and secondary.

The type of insomnia that is most common is secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia is caused by other factors, such as pain, disease, environmental changes, depression, or schedule changes. Treating secondary insomnia simply involves removing the cause. For example, if the patient drinks a lot of coffee, ending this habit would be a way to end the insomnia.

When insomnia occurs and a cause cannot be determined, it is called primary insomnia. Usually, primary insomnia can be traced back to an emotional disturbance or long term illness. One of the facts about primary insomnia is that it is usually more difficult to treat than secondary insomnia. Usually, some type of therapy is involved in the treatment.

Knowledge Is Power

Knowing the facts about insomnia and more about the disorder will help you to master the condition once and for all. Going to the source of the problem might be the solution you were looking for.

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.

Ryan Kaufman asked:


Insomnia or the inability to sleep is a common disorder that is suffered by millions of people worldwide. It may be comforting for insomniacs to learn that this is not considered a disease but a condition that can easily be overcome through systematic and effective ways designed to combat this disorder. There are many facts about insomnia that has been published on various publications, whether online or in the physical world.

Facts about Insomnia Established

Insomnia is a condition where the sufferers find it difficult to doze off into dreamland. When insomnia is caused by certain short term event, the effects might likely go away after the emotional trauma which causes it has dissipated away. However when the condition of insomnia occurs over a prolonged period of time, you need to get moving and get your facts about insomnia straight so that you will know what you are up against!

Causes of Insomnia

It is perhaps an established fact about insomnia that prolonged periods of exposure to lack of sleep can cause major depression, impairment in the ability to perform daily tasks and changes in eating patterns as well.

In order to begin the search for the right treatment, you need to understand some basic facts about insomnia. Insomnia can be defined as the inability to fall asleep, and the difficulty of remaining asleep once you really do manage to fall asleep. This is an annoying and disturbing situation to be in because when sleep patterns are disrupted, a tremendous sense of fatigue follows the day after.

Studies conducted revealed some startling facts about insomnia that you need to know about. Insomnia can be a form of disorder in itself without any causal factors or it can be the direct consequence of another traumatic event. The former is known as primary insomnia and the second condition is referred to as secondary insomnia.

Facts about Insomnia: A Brief Summary

To effectively win the battle against insomnia, you need to get the facts about insomnia right, and then move on to determine the cause if insomnia itself. If you are suffering from secondary insomnia, the best way to fix this issue is by taking the necessary steps to remove the causal factors that are creating those problems or you, or aggravating it. If the insomnia is a primary form, then the issue could be a serious illness or a serious emotional problem that needs attention from a medical professional.

Ken Glauser asked:


Do you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and full of energy? No? Well that could be an indication of insomnia or a sleep disorder. Insomnia comes in a few forms. Some insomniacs go to bed but can’t fall asleep. Others sleep for a brief time and then wake up and have a hard time going back to sleep, while still others may never reach REM (Rapid Eye Movement) essential to good sleep patterns.

Primary Insomnia

Primary insomnia is a condition that isn’t related to anything in the persons life. It doesn’t occur because of stress, worries, drug usage or any number of other sleep robbing conditions. It comes and goes in most cases. The average period of poor sleep is about 3 months. There is of course extreme cases that last much longer.

Secondary Insomnia

Secondary insomnia is generally brought about by another condition, be it stress, illness or chemical dependence. The actual chemicals themselves can sometimes have insomnia as one of the side effects. Any disorders can trigger secondary insomnia. Stress and worries may be so intense that they affect your sleep and even your subconscious. This may lead to being prone to insomnia. Pain, depression, and anxiety are frequent triggers to insomnia. Insomnia from the drugs taken for those conditions can also lead to insomnia.

Effects of Insomnia

If you are like the large majority of people, (insomnia is a common health problem), then you know how the lack of sleep can affect you. In most studies conducted, lack of sleep leads to lower concentration levels and irritability. Tired is not the way to operate effectively. A rested person has recharged their minds and bodies. A person needs to recharge to be effective, both physically and mentally.

Cure for Insomnia

With secondary insomnia, frequently if the person learns to deal with the underlying cause, then the insomnia disappears. To do that though, the person needs to know the root problem of the sleepless nights. Sometimes the subconscious mind has to be forced to deal with the underlying issue before it will release the person to the point where they can relax and sleep. Insomnia is a common problem with surviving family. Sometimes the person should seek health professionals to discover the cure for their insomnia. Especially if it goes on for long periods of time.

Where to go for Information

Facts about insomnia are numerous on the internet. Googling the word “insomnia” shows over 5.7 million occurrences. There are also numerous research papers or books on the subject. They discuss detailed accounts of the suffering that comes with sleep disorders. They also talk about treatments for the insomniac. If you are using the internet, make sure that it is a reputable site that you are using. Most are very good but a small percentage of them are of no use whatsoever to the reader. They are there solely to sell other products with advertising space on the website. If in doubt, talk to a doctor about any remedies you are considering.