About Insomia

Insomnia is a sleep problem, characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. Because it is usually related to some other problem, it is regarded more as a symptom than a disorder all its own. It can affect people of all ages, but it is more common in women than men. Incidences of insomnia tend to increase with age.

Types

• Insomnia can be short-term or chronic. Short-term insomnia usually lasts for less than a month and is often tied to some recent stressor. Chronic insomnia, which is less common than short-term insomnia, is a continuous condition that does not seem to get better over a period of months. Chronic insomnia is usually a sign of another mental or emotional problem.

Causes

• The most common cause of insomnia is stress. Stress from work, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce or any other major life stress can make sleeping more difficult. Other causes can include recent change in a work shift, poor sleeping habits, breathing problems, lack of exercise, depression and anxiety.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of insomnia include trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep and waking too early in the morning. It is often the daytime effects, such as impaired concentration, impaired memory, poor coordination and irritability, that lead sufferers to seek treatment.

Treatment

• Treatments for insomnia will almost always begin with identifying and correcting the underlying cause for the difficulty sleeping. Other recommendations for those with insomnia include better sleep habits, such as avoiding caffeine and other stimulants before bed, avoiding daytime naps, going to bed at the same time each night, waking at the same time each morning and exercising regularly.

  If treatment of the underlying cause and behavior changes are still not enough, a doctor may prescribe a prescription sleep aid for a short period of time. These medications tend to be habit-forming and should not be used long-term.

Risk Factors

• There are some groups of people who seem to be more prone to insomnia symptoms than others. These groups include frequent travelers, seniors, students, shift workers, pregnant women and menopausal women. People with medical problems such as obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, chronic pain syndrome, acid reflux disease, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease also tend to have a higher instance of insomnia symptoms.