Insomnia and Poor Quality Sleep: Causes and Treatments
May 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under Types Of Insomnia
James S. Pendergraft asked:
Insomnia is irregular wakefulness, inability to sleep or poor quality sleep. This problem might cause during daytime, like lack of energy, tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. Some level of this problem is experienced by everyone. It is as simple as not able to fall asleep, as changes made in sleeping patterns or excitement of next day. A symptom of Night time eating syndrome may be Insomnia.
Different classifications of Insomnia are chronic, intermittent and transient. The short term insomnia is transient insomnia, which lasts from single night to couple of weeks. Insomnia which occurs on and off is Intermittent Insomnia. The constantly occurred insomnia is chronic insomnia.
This problem can be caused by different things. The people who are experiencing stress, extreme temperatures, change in surrounding environment, environmental noise, wake/sleep schedule problems like medication side effects is caused by intermittent and transient insomnia. The chronic insomnia cause is more complex than intermittent and transient insomnia causes. It results in the combination of factors which includes mental disorders or underlying physical. Chronic insomnia is most commonly caused by depression.
Other substances or medications may also cause insomnia like tobacco, caffeine, stimulants, alcohol, nicotine, sedatives, certain allergy, theophylline and cold medicines. The primary causes of insomnia include medical or emotional conditions. Some life changes can cause long term insomnia like changes in their work schedule, major life problems, emotional upsets like relationship break up, long lasting stress and Gastrointestinal disorders like heartburn.
The non-drug treatments of insomnia:
The treatment not only includes medications, but even behavioral modifications for long term results and sleep habitat. To manage insomnia, it is important to evaluate sleep habitats. In some cases changing sleep schedule might correct the problem without any medications.
The good sleep habitat includes a comfortable quite room at comfortable temperature and a comfortable bed, regular sleep times, appropriate lighting, regular exercises, not late in evenings or close to bed time, avoid naps during day time and relaxations techniques like breathing exercise.
The OTC (Over the Counter) medicines for insomnia are advisable only for short term and transient insomnia. The OTC drugs should not be used for short period conjunction, with having changes in sleeping habitats. These drugs when used for chronic results in dependence on them. Where it creates a problem, that sleep is not possible till the use of drug. Chromic insomnia should be evaluated by physicians.
The Antihistamines for insomnia:
Doxylamine (for e.g. Unisom) and Diphenhydramine (for e.g. Nytol, Sominex) are marketed as OTC drugs. Diphenhydramine is the agent which is considered to be effective and safe by drug and food administration. The effectiveness and safety of doxylamineis not adequately evaluated for FDA approval. The causes of Diphenhydramine include motion, allergy, cough suppression and sickness.
The drug interactions for insomnia:
Doxylamine and Diphenhydramine add medications which causes drowsiness and the tranquilizer of alcohol.
The side effects for insomnia:
Doxylamine and Diphenhydramine also cause dry mouth, difficulty in ********* and constipation. Both the drugs worsen the symptoms of asthma, prostate gland enlargement, glaucoma and heart problems.
To Your Health!
Insomnia is irregular wakefulness, inability to sleep or poor quality sleep. This problem might cause during daytime, like lack of energy, tiredness, irritability and difficulty concentrating. Some level of this problem is experienced by everyone. It is as simple as not able to fall asleep, as changes made in sleeping patterns or excitement of next day. A symptom of Night time eating syndrome may be Insomnia.
Different classifications of Insomnia are chronic, intermittent and transient. The short term insomnia is transient insomnia, which lasts from single night to couple of weeks. Insomnia which occurs on and off is Intermittent Insomnia. The constantly occurred insomnia is chronic insomnia.
This problem can be caused by different things. The people who are experiencing stress, extreme temperatures, change in surrounding environment, environmental noise, wake/sleep schedule problems like medication side effects is caused by intermittent and transient insomnia. The chronic insomnia cause is more complex than intermittent and transient insomnia causes. It results in the combination of factors which includes mental disorders or underlying physical. Chronic insomnia is most commonly caused by depression.
Other substances or medications may also cause insomnia like tobacco, caffeine, stimulants, alcohol, nicotine, sedatives, certain allergy, theophylline and cold medicines. The primary causes of insomnia include medical or emotional conditions. Some life changes can cause long term insomnia like changes in their work schedule, major life problems, emotional upsets like relationship break up, long lasting stress and Gastrointestinal disorders like heartburn.
The non-drug treatments of insomnia:
The treatment not only includes medications, but even behavioral modifications for long term results and sleep habitat. To manage insomnia, it is important to evaluate sleep habitats. In some cases changing sleep schedule might correct the problem without any medications.
The good sleep habitat includes a comfortable quite room at comfortable temperature and a comfortable bed, regular sleep times, appropriate lighting, regular exercises, not late in evenings or close to bed time, avoid naps during day time and relaxations techniques like breathing exercise.
The OTC (Over the Counter) medicines for insomnia are advisable only for short term and transient insomnia. The OTC drugs should not be used for short period conjunction, with having changes in sleeping habitats. These drugs when used for chronic results in dependence on them. Where it creates a problem, that sleep is not possible till the use of drug. Chromic insomnia should be evaluated by physicians.
The Antihistamines for insomnia:
Doxylamine (for e.g. Unisom) and Diphenhydramine (for e.g. Nytol, Sominex) are marketed as OTC drugs. Diphenhydramine is the agent which is considered to be effective and safe by drug and food administration. The effectiveness and safety of doxylamineis not adequately evaluated for FDA approval. The causes of Diphenhydramine include motion, allergy, cough suppression and sickness.
The drug interactions for insomnia:
Doxylamine and Diphenhydramine add medications which causes drowsiness and the tranquilizer of alcohol.
The side effects for insomnia:
Doxylamine and Diphenhydramine also cause dry mouth, difficulty in ********* and constipation. Both the drugs worsen the symptoms of asthma, prostate gland enlargement, glaucoma and heart problems.
To Your Health!
What is Insomnia and What are It’s Main Causes?
peterhutch asked:
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is the inability to get high-quality sleep. It can last a day or two, a month, or even months on end. Because different individuals need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep or by how quickly you fall asleep. Instead, it depends on the quality of your sleep, and how you feel after sleeping. Even if you are sleeping eight hours a night, if you’re still feeling drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.
Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present.
Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel, extreme climate changes, and stressful events.
Short-term insomnia usually is due to ongoing stressful events, medication side effects, medical conditions, and lasts for one to three weeks
Chronic insomnia (long-term insomnia) often results from depression or substance abuse and continues for more than three weeks.
Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age.
Insomnia is also a problem that is prevalent among people with HIV/AIDS.
What are the main causes of insomnia?
psychological health problems such as stress or anxiety
physical health problems such as asthma or pain
medicines like those taken for asthma, vertigo and depression
jet lag (for more information see Related topics)
A number of other diseases and conditions can cause secondary insomnia
environmental factors such as noise, an uncomfortable bed or being too hot or cold
lifestyle habits, eg eating late at night, drinking alcohol or using stimulants such as nicotine
Exposure to stress may contribute to the development or worsening of insomnia. Relationship problems, a chronically ill child, or an unrewarding career may contribute to sleep problems. If you suffer from these types of stresses, you should seek counseling to gain a new outlook on your troubles and more control in your life.
People who work alternating shifts may develop insomnia because of a continually fluctuating sleep-wake schedule. For example, if a person works five nights a week and then works a day schedule for the next days, insomnia may result from changes in circadian rhythm.
Caffeine most commonly disrupts sleep. While a drink or two before bed may help a person relax, more than that can lead to fragmented sleep and wakefulness a few hours later.
The levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps control sleep, decrease as a person ages. By age 60, the body produces very little melatonin.
Long-term use of sleep medications. If you need sleep medications for longer than several weeks, talk with your doctor, preferably one who specializes in sleep medicine.
Stimulants. Prescription drugs, including some antidepressants, high blood pressure and corticosteroid medications, can interfere with sleep.
Heavy, spicy, or high-sugar foods eaten at night can cause indigestion strong enough to wake you.
Depression and sleep problems are closely linked: insomnia can be an early sign of depression.
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is the inability to get high-quality sleep. It can last a day or two, a month, or even months on end. Because different individuals need different amounts of sleep, insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep or by how quickly you fall asleep. Instead, it depends on the quality of your sleep, and how you feel after sleeping. Even if you are sleeping eight hours a night, if you’re still feeling drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia.
Insomnia may be classified by how long the symptoms are present.
Transient insomnia usually is due to situational changes such as travel, extreme climate changes, and stressful events.
Short-term insomnia usually is due to ongoing stressful events, medication side effects, medical conditions, and lasts for one to three weeks
Chronic insomnia (long-term insomnia) often results from depression or substance abuse and continues for more than three weeks.
Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age.
Insomnia is also a problem that is prevalent among people with HIV/AIDS.
What are the main causes of insomnia?
psychological health problems such as stress or anxiety
physical health problems such as asthma or pain
medicines like those taken for asthma, vertigo and depression
jet lag (for more information see Related topics)
A number of other diseases and conditions can cause secondary insomnia
environmental factors such as noise, an uncomfortable bed or being too hot or cold
lifestyle habits, eg eating late at night, drinking alcohol or using stimulants such as nicotine
Exposure to stress may contribute to the development or worsening of insomnia. Relationship problems, a chronically ill child, or an unrewarding career may contribute to sleep problems. If you suffer from these types of stresses, you should seek counseling to gain a new outlook on your troubles and more control in your life.
People who work alternating shifts may develop insomnia because of a continually fluctuating sleep-wake schedule. For example, if a person works five nights a week and then works a day schedule for the next days, insomnia may result from changes in circadian rhythm.
Caffeine most commonly disrupts sleep. While a drink or two before bed may help a person relax, more than that can lead to fragmented sleep and wakefulness a few hours later.
The levels of melatonin, the hormone that helps control sleep, decrease as a person ages. By age 60, the body produces very little melatonin.
Long-term use of sleep medications. If you need sleep medications for longer than several weeks, talk with your doctor, preferably one who specializes in sleep medicine.
Stimulants. Prescription drugs, including some antidepressants, high blood pressure and corticosteroid medications, can interfere with sleep.
Heavy, spicy, or high-sugar foods eaten at night can cause indigestion strong enough to wake you.
Depression and sleep problems are closely linked: insomnia can be an early sign of depression.
Why Aren’t You Using Natural Remedies for Insomnia Treatment?
Connie Wolf asked:
Let’s begin with the definition of insomnia. Insomnia is the difficulty of falling asleep or maintaining sleep. And insomnia is not always measured by the number of hours you sleep since everyone varies in sleep needs and practices. Since most of us know what insomnia is and how we feel the next day with one or more sleepless nights before that, not all of us seek treatment and remain unaware of the options available to treat insomnia. I have some interesting things to tell you.
Let’s start with the symptoms of insomnia. Generally there are three types of insomnia, and these are based on how long it lasts.
*Transient insomnia: lasts fewer than four weeks
*Short-term insomnia: the inability to sleep well for four to six months
*Chronic insomnia: the inability to sleep every night or most nights for more than six months
Insomnia symptoms for Transient and short-term insomnia can be caused by stress related factors such as losing a job, marital problems, personal events and just plain worrying about things.
Chronic insomnia symptoms can be caused by medical illnesses like heartburn, menopause, diabetes, and arthritis, sleep disordered breathing, like sleep apnea that cause one to stop breathing while asleep, restless leg syndrome (RLS) which is recurrent movements of the legs during sleep. “Learned” insomnia, where you go to bed worrying about going to sleep. Age, because as we age sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented. And lifestyle factors, like caffeine consumption, alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, poor sleeping habits.
Insomnia treatment can be divided into two areas: Treatment with and without medication.
When people think about insomnia treatment they tend to think about sleeping pills that can become addictive and may just bring up more medical issues. But in my research I have found that there are actually a lot of non-medical therapies and techniques out there that go a long way to help you feel sleepy at night and stay asleep.
Here are few techniques and suggestions I have found.
Develop a sleeping schedule
*Exercise during the day
*Keep a comfortable bedroom temperature
*Avoid stimulating drugs, like caffeine and nicotine right before sleep
*Avoid alcohol
*Avoid heavy meals before bedtime
*Natural remedies, including night time teas and alternative medicines
*Increase exposure to sunlight more in the morning than in the evening
*Relaxation therapy to reduce anxiety and body tension
Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and find out more about natural cures and natural remedies for insomnia. Just a moment of your time, it may be a wise choice for you or someone you know and love that is suffering from insomnia.
Let’s begin with the definition of insomnia. Insomnia is the difficulty of falling asleep or maintaining sleep. And insomnia is not always measured by the number of hours you sleep since everyone varies in sleep needs and practices. Since most of us know what insomnia is and how we feel the next day with one or more sleepless nights before that, not all of us seek treatment and remain unaware of the options available to treat insomnia. I have some interesting things to tell you.
Let’s start with the symptoms of insomnia. Generally there are three types of insomnia, and these are based on how long it lasts.
*Transient insomnia: lasts fewer than four weeks
*Short-term insomnia: the inability to sleep well for four to six months
*Chronic insomnia: the inability to sleep every night or most nights for more than six months
Insomnia symptoms for Transient and short-term insomnia can be caused by stress related factors such as losing a job, marital problems, personal events and just plain worrying about things.
Chronic insomnia symptoms can be caused by medical illnesses like heartburn, menopause, diabetes, and arthritis, sleep disordered breathing, like sleep apnea that cause one to stop breathing while asleep, restless leg syndrome (RLS) which is recurrent movements of the legs during sleep. “Learned” insomnia, where you go to bed worrying about going to sleep. Age, because as we age sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented. And lifestyle factors, like caffeine consumption, alcohol and drug abuse, smoking, poor sleeping habits.
Insomnia treatment can be divided into two areas: Treatment with and without medication.
When people think about insomnia treatment they tend to think about sleeping pills that can become addictive and may just bring up more medical issues. But in my research I have found that there are actually a lot of non-medical therapies and techniques out there that go a long way to help you feel sleepy at night and stay asleep.
Here are few techniques and suggestions I have found.
Develop a sleeping schedule
*Exercise during the day
*Keep a comfortable bedroom temperature
*Avoid stimulating drugs, like caffeine and nicotine right before sleep
*Avoid alcohol
*Avoid heavy meals before bedtime
*Natural remedies, including night time teas and alternative medicines
*Increase exposure to sunlight more in the morning than in the evening
*Relaxation therapy to reduce anxiety and body tension
Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and find out more about natural cures and natural remedies for insomnia. Just a moment of your time, it may be a wise choice for you or someone you know and love that is suffering from insomnia.
Insomnia Cures: the Search Continues
September 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Unwanted Side Effects
Mick Thandi asked:
Missing those precious moments of sleep? Me too, and we are not the only ones. Insomnia is a monster that lurks around shadows and jumps out to rattle our day. The search to slay the monster is the search for Insomnia Cures.
Since the dawn of time people have suffered from Insomnia and have been looking for ways to defeat the monster and allow themselves to rest, recoup, and regenerate. Not only regenerate their bodies and minds: but also their lives. Living with a lack of sleep feels like being punished for something we have no control over. Insomnia creates a life for its sufferers in which it seems like they are living out their days in a complete haze. With people coming and going, and not remembering what you just talked about. It’s like having your life pass you by in conversation. Your life moves along as you stand still. Dealing with everyday pressures without the energy sleep provides, is like fighting a battle that was lost before it even began. Insomnia morphs your real life into your dream. Every day starts to feel like you are living a real life dream. It is as if your life has been turned upside down and inside out. Insomnia changes your normal life to a bizarre world where everything is the same, but altogether different. For those who are fighting the monster called Insomnia, this is all too real. You are not alone my friend.
Going long periods of time without sufficient sleep causes many things to change in the way you go about your day. At first this may seem odd and even frightening. And it is, believe me. Thus, always remember you are not alone in fighting the monster. Insomnia interrupts so many people’s lives that you have to believe that suffering with Insomnia is normal as living without it.
Living with the constant feeling of sleepwalking through life has made me feel like a stranger in my own body. I feel like an Insomnia Zombie. I think that term, Insomnia Zombie, nicely sums up the way I feel most days. Walking around and trying to live your life the best that you can. At the same time feeling as if the world is against you or that you are fighting an uphill battle that cannot be won. It can be won and will be won!
With the amount of people suffering from Insomnia, there is an equal amount of tired people searching for any Insomnia Cures. With today’s technology and most apparent, the Internet, finding solutions to problems has gotten easier. When I first started lose sleep, it was only a few hours at a time that would disappear from my sleep repertoire. Then those few hours I was losing turned into full night’s sleep lost. I wasn’t just losing a couple of hours of sleep anymore; I in turn wasn’t sleeping at all. Not to say I wasn’t tired, on the contrary, I was extremely exhausted and wanted sleep like an alcoholic wanting its bottle. I became cranky and disillusioned. I spent my entire day being tired beyond belief but could not do anything to remedy it. I use to say to myself, ‘there has to help out there”, and I was right. That is when I turned to the World Wide Web and found a community of fellow sufferers, and every member of this community was trying to kill the monster. Knowing the Monster of Insomnia could be killed or at least wounded, made me feel better about my situation. I am not alone and I do not have to suffer a lone, nor do I need to find a solution to this problem all by myself. I have a community of people that share a common goal: slay the monster of Insomnia.
Give me my sleep, give me my life. I truly believe those words. Learning to live with Insomnia is not an answer for me, nor should it be for you. I deserve to fall asleep when I so desire, and I have a right to. It is my sleep, I deserve it, give it to me. But as we all know, there is no communication with Insomnia, or even a chance to negotiate with it. It is here, and it is a monster. Trying to yell at Insomnia is like trying to yell at a wall. It will not answer, nor will it even acknowledge you. What you have to do is knock that wall down! The wall can come down and the monster can be defeated. All analogies aside, Insomnia hurts all of its sufferers, and we do not want to suffer any longer. Suffering with Insomnia is a temporary way of living.
There are many sufferers of Insomnia, and thus have brought a lot of people searching for Insomnia Cures. Together we can defeat the monster of Insomnia.
Insomnia cures are out there for us to have.
Missing those precious moments of sleep? Me too, and we are not the only ones. Insomnia is a monster that lurks around shadows and jumps out to rattle our day. The search to slay the monster is the search for Insomnia Cures.
Since the dawn of time people have suffered from Insomnia and have been looking for ways to defeat the monster and allow themselves to rest, recoup, and regenerate. Not only regenerate their bodies and minds: but also their lives. Living with a lack of sleep feels like being punished for something we have no control over. Insomnia creates a life for its sufferers in which it seems like they are living out their days in a complete haze. With people coming and going, and not remembering what you just talked about. It’s like having your life pass you by in conversation. Your life moves along as you stand still. Dealing with everyday pressures without the energy sleep provides, is like fighting a battle that was lost before it even began. Insomnia morphs your real life into your dream. Every day starts to feel like you are living a real life dream. It is as if your life has been turned upside down and inside out. Insomnia changes your normal life to a bizarre world where everything is the same, but altogether different. For those who are fighting the monster called Insomnia, this is all too real. You are not alone my friend.
Going long periods of time without sufficient sleep causes many things to change in the way you go about your day. At first this may seem odd and even frightening. And it is, believe me. Thus, always remember you are not alone in fighting the monster. Insomnia interrupts so many people’s lives that you have to believe that suffering with Insomnia is normal as living without it.
Living with the constant feeling of sleepwalking through life has made me feel like a stranger in my own body. I feel like an Insomnia Zombie. I think that term, Insomnia Zombie, nicely sums up the way I feel most days. Walking around and trying to live your life the best that you can. At the same time feeling as if the world is against you or that you are fighting an uphill battle that cannot be won. It can be won and will be won!
With the amount of people suffering from Insomnia, there is an equal amount of tired people searching for any Insomnia Cures. With today’s technology and most apparent, the Internet, finding solutions to problems has gotten easier. When I first started lose sleep, it was only a few hours at a time that would disappear from my sleep repertoire. Then those few hours I was losing turned into full night’s sleep lost. I wasn’t just losing a couple of hours of sleep anymore; I in turn wasn’t sleeping at all. Not to say I wasn’t tired, on the contrary, I was extremely exhausted and wanted sleep like an alcoholic wanting its bottle. I became cranky and disillusioned. I spent my entire day being tired beyond belief but could not do anything to remedy it. I use to say to myself, ‘there has to help out there”, and I was right. That is when I turned to the World Wide Web and found a community of fellow sufferers, and every member of this community was trying to kill the monster. Knowing the Monster of Insomnia could be killed or at least wounded, made me feel better about my situation. I am not alone and I do not have to suffer a lone, nor do I need to find a solution to this problem all by myself. I have a community of people that share a common goal: slay the monster of Insomnia.
Give me my sleep, give me my life. I truly believe those words. Learning to live with Insomnia is not an answer for me, nor should it be for you. I deserve to fall asleep when I so desire, and I have a right to. It is my sleep, I deserve it, give it to me. But as we all know, there is no communication with Insomnia, or even a chance to negotiate with it. It is here, and it is a monster. Trying to yell at Insomnia is like trying to yell at a wall. It will not answer, nor will it even acknowledge you. What you have to do is knock that wall down! The wall can come down and the monster can be defeated. All analogies aside, Insomnia hurts all of its sufferers, and we do not want to suffer any longer. Suffering with Insomnia is a temporary way of living.
There are many sufferers of Insomnia, and thus have brought a lot of people searching for Insomnia Cures. Together we can defeat the monster of Insomnia.
Insomnia cures are out there for us to have.
