Insomnia

Most people suffer from sleeplessness or insomnia at some point in their lives, and approximately 30-50% of adults get affected by this condition.  Insomnia is not a stand-alone disease or diagnosis, but a symptom.  Insomnia is classified based on the duration of the condition.  Insomnia affects people of all age groups, however it understanding insomniais more common among adults, and with age, the frequency of this condition increases.

Insomnia can affect the people of all age groups, and among adults, it is more common among women.  There are many causes associated with insomnia, and some of the most common causes include illicit drug use, jet lag, cigarette smoking, certain medications, alcohol intoxication, caffeine, working different shift, stressful life situations or physical discomfort such as death of a loved one, loss of job, divorce, examination and so on.  Sleep hygiene is very important in insomnia, and poor sleep hygiene such as exercising or eating prior to sleep, using bedroom for things other than sleeping, doing work in bed, sleeping in the room with too much light or sound and going to bed hungry can cause insomnia.  Some of the psychiatric and medical conditions contributing to insomnia include congestive heart failure, acid reflux, obesity, breathing problems, chronic pain, obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, hyperthyroidism, parkinson’s disease, dementia, mania, psychosis, depression, anxiety, and so on.

 Some of the common symptoms of insomnia are impaired daytime functioning, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, mood swings, headaches, anxiety, poor attention, poor social function, and increased mistakes and errors.  There are several specialized doctors who can evaluate and treat any kind of sleep disorder, including insomnia.  Physician performs general physical examination including neurological function, measurement of waist size and neck circumference and assessment of mental status.  Seniors, travelers, pregnant women, shift worker, adolescents and menopausal women are at the higher risk for developing insomnia.

 Determining the right cause is the key to treat insomnia, and doctor takes into consideration several factors while making the diagnosis.  Insomnia can be the symptom of any other underlying psychological or medical problem which must be addressed first.  It is a good idea for the patient to maintain daily record of sleep pattern, use of alcohol, food intake, exercise, nicotine, medication or any other information for almost two weeks.  Once the underlying trigger is corrected or removed, the transient insomnia usually gets resolved.

 For treating insomnia, the main focus is on finding the cause, and once the cause is identified, it is essential to control and manage the underlying problem.  Change in lifestyle can also improve the situation.  Other treatments include changes in behavior, body and mind relaxation, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, herbal teas, dream pillows, light therapy, traditional Chinese medicine and so on.  To help get a sleep, avoid the use of caffeine, find ways to manage stress in your life, exercise regularly, do not take nap during the daytime, eat only light meals before going to bed, and do not lie in the bed worryinig.