Juliet Cohen asked:


Insomnia is a sleep disorder. Sleep is a state of consciousnesses, which gives your body time to rest and build up your strength. It is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or inability to remain asleep for a reasonable period. Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it’s the result of tension, stress and anxiety — and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. It is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine, depression, bipolar disorder or sometimes for no apparent reason. An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present. Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel and stressful events. It lasts for less than a week or until the stressful event is resolved. Short-term insomnia lasts for 1-3 weeks, and long-term insomnia (chronic insomnia) continues for more than 3 weeks. Chronic insomnia often results from depression or substance abuse. It is important to know that nearly everyone has problems sleeping at some time or other and it is thought that a third of people in the UK have bouts of insomnia. 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, it’s normal to need less sleep. Most people over 70 need less than 6 hours sleep per night; and they tend to be light sleepers.

Three types of insomnia first is transient insomnia second is acute insomnia and last is chronic insomnia. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Poor sleep quality can occur as a result of sleep apnea or major depression. 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. Chronic insomnia can lead to mental health problems such as depression, or misuse of alcohol or other medicines in order to gain sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when a sleeping person’s breathing is interrupted, thus interrupting the normal sleep cycle. With the obstructive form of the condition, some part of the sleeper’s respiratory tract loses muscle tone and partially collapses. People with obstructive sleep apnea often do not remember any of this, but they complain of excessive sleepiness during the day. Central sleep apnea interrupts the normal breathing stimulus of the central nervous system, and the individual must actually wake up to resume breathing. Sometimes perimenopausal (the time leading up to menopause) women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; hot flashes and night sweats often can disturb sleep. Pregnancy also can affect how well a woman sleeps.

Treatment of insomnia should be individualized based on the nature and severity of symptoms. Most cases of insomnia inability to sleep or inability to sleep well at night. Lormetazepam, a short-acting benzodiazepine widely used for the treatment of insomnia. Rozerem is the very first insomnia treatment medication on the market that acts as a melatonin receptor agonist. Rozerem is just one of the many insomnia medications available on the market today. It is important that you discuss with your health care provider if prescription medications are right to treat your insomnia. Benzodiazepines drugs are relatives of diazepam (Valium) marketed as sleeping aids. Other drugs such as ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) are likely to produce neurologic side effects when taken. Barbiturates were formerly the standard sleeping pills, sold under such names as Seconal and Nembutal. Nonpharmacologic treatments for insomnia are considered effective if they decrease sleep onset latency or increase total sleep time by 30 minutes. Most treatment studies use patient-reported sleep diaries to measure outcome. Criteria used include total sleep time, sleep-onset latency, and number of nocturnal awakenings. A meta-analysis of 48 individual studies of behavioral therapy found stimulus control therapy to be effective and to be superior to progressive relaxation, imagery training, and paradoxical intention. Develop a regular sleeping schedule. Avoid daytime naps and stimulating activities just before bedtime. Avoid alcohol- it is a leading cause of poor sleep. Drink a cup of warm milk.

james sameul asked:

Introduction

Nearly everyone has occasional sleepless nights, perhaps due to stress, heartburn, or drinking too much caffeine or alcohol. Chronic insomnia is defined when you have problems falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or experience nonrestorative sleep that occurs on a regular or frequent basis, often for no apparent reason.

Insomnia Overview

Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time or another in their lives. An estimated 30-50% of the general population are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia.

Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis. By definition, insomnia is “difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both.” Although most of us know what insomnia is and how we feel and perform after one or more sleepless nights, few seek medical advice. Many people remain unaware of the behavioral and medical options available to treat insomnia.

Insomnia techniques you’ve probably already tried but are still worth trying again.

·    See a Doctor

Insomnia can be a symptom of physical disorders, although for most of us it’s the result of tension, stress and anxiety—and of course the more anxious we get about our insomnia, the worse it gets. If your doctor pronounces you a “healthy” insomniac, he might suggest some of the techniques provided here. Or she might prescribe drugs to help you get to sleep.

We suggest you try all these methods first, and use drugs only as a last resort. The decision, of course, is yours.

·    Take a Warm Bath

It’s a great way to relax your body. Don’t overdo it, however. You merely want to relax your body, not exhaust it. Too long in hot water and your body is drained of vitality.

What causes insomnia?

Insomnia is the body’s way of saying that something isn’t right. Things that may cause insomnia include stress, too much caffeine, depression, changes in work shifts, and pain from medical problems, such as arthritis.

There are different kinds of insomnia:

·    Sleep Onset Insomnia (Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome): A disorder in which the major sleep episode is delayed in relation to the desired clock time that results in symptoms of sleep onset insomnia or difficulty in awakening at the desired time.

·    Idiopathic Insomnia: A lifelong inability to obtain adequate sleep that is presumably due to an abnormality of the neurological control of the sleep-wake system. The insomnia is long-standing, commonly beginning in early childhood, sometimes since birth.

·    Psychophysiological Insomnia: A disorder of somatized tension (conversion of anxiety into physical symptoms) and learned sleep-preventing association that results in a complaint of insomnia and associated decreased functioning during wakefulness.

Symptoms

Symptoms of insomnia can be different for each individual, and people with insomnia might experience a variety of symptoms, such as:

·    Difficulty falling asleep, which can mean lying in bed for up to an hour or more, perhaps tossing and turning, wishing for sleep to begin.

·    Awakening during sleep and having trouble getting back to sleep.

·    Awakening too early in the morning.

·    Feeling unrefreshed upon awakening.

·    Daytime irritability, drowsiness, anxiety, and/or nonproductiveness.

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.

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.