INSOMNIA: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Insomnia is a disease that is associated with difficulty in sleeping or staying at sleep. Because different people need different amounts of sleep, insomnia it can also be defined by the quality of your sleep and how you feel after sleeping, not the number of hours you sleep or how quickly you doze off. Even if you’re spending eight hours a night in bed, if you feel drowsy and fatigued during the day, you may be experiencing insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by psychiatric and medical conditions, unhealthy sleep habits, specific substances, and/or certain biological factors.

Forms of insomnia

·     Acute insomnia: its characterized by short sleep and often happens because of life circumstances (for example, when you can't fall asleep the night before an exam, or after receiving stressful or bad news). Many people may have experienced this type of passing sleep disruption. Acute insomnia does not require any treatment.

·    Chronic insomnia Chronic insomnia disorders have many causes of which includes; Changes in the environment, unhealthy sleep habits, shift work, other clinical disorders, and certain medications could lead to a long-term pattern of insufficient sleep. People with chronic insomnia may benefit from some form of treatment to help them get back to healthy sleep patterns. Chronic insomnia can be co morbid, meaning it is linked to another medical or psychiatric issue, although sometimes it's difficult to understand this cause and effect relationship.

Causes of Insomnia

Some medical conditions (some mild and others more serious) can cause insomnia. In some cases, a medical condition itself causes insomnia, while in other cases, symptoms of the medical condition cause discomfort that can make it difficult for a patient to sleep.

Examples of medical conditions that can cause insomnia are:

• Endocrine problems such as hyperthyroidism
• Arthritis
• Nasal/sinus allergies
• Asthma
• Neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease
• Chronic pain
• Gastrointestinal problems such as reflux
• Low back pain

Medication: side effects of some medications such as those taken for the common cold and nasal allergies, high blood pressure, heart disease, thyroid disease, birth control, asthma, and depression can also cause insomnia.

Unhealthy Lifestyle: Insomnia can be triggered or perpetuated by your behaviors and sleep patterns. Unhealthy lifestyles and sleep habits can create insomnia on their own (without any underlying psychiatric or medical problem), or they can make insomnia caused by another problem worse.

Anxiety: Most adults do have some trouble sleeping because they feel worried or nervous, but for some it's a pattern that interferes with sleep on a regular basis. Anxiety symptoms that can lead to insomnia include:

• Excessive worrying about future events
• Tension
• Getting caught up in thoughts about past events
• Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities
• A general feeling of being revved up or overstimulated

Diagnosing Insomnia

If you think you have insomnia, talk to your health care provider. An evaluation may include a physical exam, a medical history, and a sleep history. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a week or two, keeping track of your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day. Your health care provider may want to interview your bed partner about the quantity and quality of your sleep. In some cases, you may be referred to a sleep center for special tests.

Treatment for Insomnia

Acute insomnia requires no special treatment, while Mild insomnia can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits. Pills can be prescribed for those suffering from temporal effects of mild insomnia. Rapid onset, short-acting drugs can help you avoid effects such as drowsiness the following day. Avoid using over-the-counter sleeping pills for insomnia, because they may have undesired side effects and tend to lose their effectiveness over time.

Treatment for chronic insomnia includes first treating any underlying conditions or health problems that are causing the insomnia. If insomnia continues, your health care provider may suggest behavioral therapy. Behavioral approaches help you to change behaviors that may worsen insomnia and to learn new behaviors to promote sleep. Techniques such as relaxation exercises, sleep restriction therapy, and reconditioning may be useful.