Six Types of Insomnia

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is the experience of inadequate sleep or of poor quality sleep often typified by one or more of the following insomnia symptoms:

Difficulty getting off to sleep

Difficulty staying asleep or frequent night waking

Early morning waking, or

Sleep that doesn't have a refreshing affect

With the daytime consequences being

Tiredness

Low energy levels

Irritability, and

Lack of concentration

Around 30 to 40 percent of adults experience some level of insomnia within any year, and of these around 10 to 15 percent suffer from severe or chronic insomnia. As we have already seen, insomnia increases with age but is also more commonly experienced by women.

Sleeping disorders occur from infancy through to old age with a significant rise in incidence in old age. Most people don't consult a doctor about their problem or resort to sleeping pills or tranquilizers to help.

Lack of sleep accumulates into what is known as a sleep debt, with many people carrying a huge sleep debt without realizing. People with greater sleep debts are slower to recover from illness and are more vulnerable to catching infections, viruses and other illnesses.

How is insomnia diagnosed?

If you have disturbed sleep and think you have insomnia it is important to see a doctor. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a week or two, noting the patterns of your sleep (or lack of them) and your daily routines.

You will need to discuss your sleep diary with your doctor. It may be necessary for your doctor to do a physical examination as well as taking notes of your medical history. In some cases, you may be referred to a specialist sleep center.

Types of Insomnia

Acute Insomnia

This is defined as periods of sleep loss that last from between one night and a few weeks. Acute insomnia can often be caused by emotional worries and anxiety or physical discomfort. Some common examples include:

Significant life stress, such as bereavement or marital breakdown

Acute illness, or

Environmental disturbances such as noise, light or temperature

Jet lag also counts as acute insomnia.

Chronic insomnia

This is defined as periods of sleep loss that occur for at least three nights per week for one month or longer. Chronic insomnia can be caused by various different factors acting on their own or in combinations. These factors may occur along with other health problems.

Insomnia associated with psychiatric, medical or neurological disorders

Psychiatric disorders are a common source of chronic insomnia, however they account for less than 50 percent of cases. Anxiety and mood disorders are the most common psychiatric conditions that are associated with insomnia. Insomnia is also associated with a wide range of medical and neurological disorders.

Factors that cause problems throughout the day such as pain, immobility, breathing difficulties, dementia, and hormonal changes associated with pregnancy or menopause can also cause insomnia. Many medical disorders worsen at night such as asthma or acid reflux which is worsened by lying down.

Insomnia associated with medication and substance use

A variety of prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs can lead to wakefulness and poor-quality sleep. Some drugs, legal and non-legal, that are commonly related to insomnia include:

Caffeine

Nicotine

Alcohol

Stimulating antidepressants

Steroids

Some over the counter cold and flu remedies

Beta blockers, and

Recreational drugs such as ecstasy, amphetamines and cocaine

Insomnia associated with specific sleep disorders

Insomnia can be associated with specific sleep disorders including:

Sleep apnea

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)

Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders such as jet lag

Primary Insomnia

When other causes of insomnia have been investigated and ruled out, difficulty with sleep may be classified as primary insomnia. Factors such as chronic stress, hyper-arousal and behavioral conditioning may be contributors to Primary Insomnia.

Sleep patterns do alter as we get older with older, people tending to sleep more lightly. As our bodies age our quality of sleep becomes poorer and becomes lighter, less efficient and less restful.Your physician or other practitioner may prescribe insomnia medication to help you get to sleep, commonly known as sleeping tablets.

Stopping insomnia

Ways To Cure Insomnia

Almost everyone alive has suffered from at least one sleepless night. Tossing, turning and feeling like rest will never come, insomnia is not easy to live with even for a night. When the condition becomes chronic, ways to cure insomnia will not doubt be needed. Allowing the condition to persist over time can lead to other concerns very quickly.

The road to finding the best way to truly cure insomnia for a person will likely be a very individualized route. Since this condition has a number of different causes that range from stress and anxiety to depression and medication use, it is often by isolating those problems that the real way to cure insomnia is found. Other things such as change of working habits, aging, pain and even some medical conditions can be the cause. Isolating the cause often leads to the cure.

There are three major ways to cure insomnia. The path to finding the cure can take a little time, which is something that people suffering likely won't want to hear. The methods are:

· Self-help. Often the best way to cure insomnia is to figure out what is causing it in the first place. If it is stress at work, addressing the issue will often result in relief. If that doesn't cure insomnia, psychological assistance could be the ticket to cure insomnia. Also, if the cause is pain from another physical condition, seeking help for that can often cure insomnia.

· Behavioral. If the cause is deemed to be a change in conditions, such as switching from working days to working nights, there are other measures that can be taken. Behavioral therapy, for example, can cure insomnia by helping a person learn new ways to change their internal time clocks.

· Medications. Sleeping medications serve as the way to cure insomnia for many. These, however, really are not or should not be seen as a long-term way to cure insomnia. They can, however, help immensely while a person is seeking out the root cause for the condition. Once that is addressed, the cure for insomnia is generally found. Take care when using some of these medications as they can become addictive in some cases.

Finding the right way to cure insomnia will often hinge on determining the cause. This can be very easy in some cases and rather tricky in others. It is very important when insomnia persists over time to seek out a cause and cure.

When a person manages to cure insomnia, the entire outlook on life tends to change. While many people can go without sleep, or at least much of it, for days on end, many others cannot. The effects can impact every aspect of life.

Stopping insomnia

Insomnia Treatment Options Vary

When sleepless nights come more often than not and daytime activity is impacted, it might be time to look into the different insomnia treatment options available. The road to actually curing this problem might take a little while, but there can be immediate assistance available for some.

The type of insomnia treatment recommended will likely hinge on the actual cause of the insomnia. There are many causes and the insomnia treatment recommendations generally vary with each. Let's look at some of the causes and the potential insomnia treatments that can go along with them.

· Stress. This is one of the main causes of insomnia. When it and sleepless nights persist over time, finding a good insomnia treatment is likely in order. The best way to actually tackle this problem is to handle the stress in one's life. This, however, is easier said than done. In the meantime, many people turn to temporary insomnia treatment possibilities, such as over the counter and prescription sleep aids. It is important to make sure these are not used long. Instead, consider them temporary insomnia treatment options as the real cause is being addressed. Many people find after a few good nights' sleep, the stress that was causing the problem in the first place is much easier to deal with. Others might require professional assistance.

· Pain, chronic illness. Medical problems are a major cause of insomnia. When a person feels lousy, falling asleep can be difficult at best. The more effective insomnia treatment in this case is to address the pain or illness. This might not always be easy or even possible. In these cases, doctors can sometimes help with insomnia treatment options that also assist in addressing the pain or illness issue.

· Medications, food and drink. Some things that people take into their bodies can cause insomnia. Whether it is prescription medication for another problem, coffee before bed or lots of chocolate, looking into changing the habit can often work as an insomnia treatment. In the case of medications, it is a very good idea to seek medical advice. Some medications can be easily changed as an insomnia treatment, others might not be so easy to stop or switch.

· Eating too late. People who eat right before they go to bed sometimes find they suffer from insomnia. If this is a possible cause, the insomnia treatment here is to change

· eating habits.

· Change of schedule. When work schedules change, insomnia can result. The best insomnia treatment here is time. Chances are the body will adjust to the new schedule.

The different insomnia treatment options tend to vary depending on the cause. Typically, addressing the cause is the best insomnia treatment going. Other options include medications to assist with sleep and behavioral therapy to adjust to lifestyle changes.

Stopping insomnia

Insomnia Sleep Disorder - What Can You Do To Help Yourself?

Sleep comes naturally to most of us, but to some, sleep seems to be elusive no matter what they try. Insomnia has become more common in our society as our lives become more fast pace and stressful. Insomnia sleep disorder is believed to affect millions of people every year.

There are different levels of insomnia. Some people suffer from mild sleeping problems, such as having nightmares, while others are having more serious sleeping problems to the extend that it affects their health, if left untreated. However, there are a shocking number of insomnia sufferers who are not getting treatment for their condition. This will put them in danger of permanently damage their health if their insomnia symptoms continues. If one is lack of sleep for a long period of time, he or she will make irrational choices due to lack of focus and concentration. They may even put their loved ones in danger if they are involved in driving or taking care of young children.

Commonly, insomnia is a chronic condition where a person cannot fall asleep. Some people who suffers from insomnia may have intermittent sleep where they keep waking up after falling asleep. The consequences of not able to have a good night sleep are that the sufferers are constantly tired. Therefore, insomnia includes any combination of these conditions, cannot fall asleep and stay asleep, intermittent wakefulness and early morning awakening.

The most common causes of insomnia sleep disorder include anxiety, stress and depression. Insomnia may also result from psychological or physical causes. Another cause of insomnia is due to mental illness. Many patients with mental problems are reported to suffer from insomnia as well. Medical conditions such as chronic pain symptoms, congestive heart failure, and Alzheimer's disease can cause sleeping problems too.

External factors such as consumption of stimulants can cause insomnia too. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea should be restricted in the hours before bedtime. Insomnia sufferers should cut down on the total intake too. Some people find that drinking alcohol can help them sleep, but being dependent on alcohol for sleeping is not a good idea. Alcohol can bring adverse effects as it can disrupt sleep and cause a sense of non refreshed sleep in the morning. Another external factors that cause insomnia include a disruptive bed partner who snores or have restless leg syndrome.

Insomnia can range from mild to severe depending on how often it occurs and for how long. If insomnia lasts for three nights per week for more than a month, the condition can be considered as chronic. Insomnia which last for a shorter period is considered as short term or transient insomnia. If one knows the cause of his or her insomnia, then eliminating the cause can solve the problem. For example, if insomnia is due to medication taken for a medical condition, then stop taking the medication can stop the insomnia too. This type of insomnia is known as secondary insomnia.

Fortunately, insomnia can be cured. There are conventional and alternative treatments in the market which can help one get back his sleep. There are also cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis therapy to cure insomnia. Other treatments include low dose of antidepressant medications. Alternatively a change of sleep habits and lifestyle can often help relieve insomnia. If you are not sure the right treatment for your insomnia, then seek advice from a specialist. The most important thing is to take action to stop insomnia sleep disorder.

Stopping insomnia

Insomnia Remedy Options Exist

People with persistent sleep problems generally will resort to anything to catch a few winks. When desperation sets in, there is help. Insomnia remedy ideas abound, and while not all of them will work for everyone, there is likely something out there to assist almost anyone.

Insomnia remedy options range greatly. Major classifications for insomnia remedy choices include natural, medical, spiritual and even dietary. Let's take a look at the different options within each insomnia remedy class.

Natural

The kinds of insomnia remedy ideas that fall into this class include acupuncture, aromatherapy, music therapy and even herbal remedies. These insomnia remedy ideas tend to come with little or no side effect possibilities and most have proven very useful for some people enduring the pains of insomnia. Aromatherapy with English lavender, for example, has been known to work on people of all ages. It is considered safe enough that many infant products include this scent to calm them at night. Natural insomnia remedy ideas should be tried with care, especially the herbal ones. Music, aromatherapy and other similar options are generally fine for anyone to try, however.

Medical

When natural remedies don't work, there are medical insomnia remedy options available, too. These include medications, therapy to address the root causes, pain management and more. Some of the medical insomnia remedy ideas do come with potential side effects. Medications to aid with sleep, for example, are not considered safe or effective for long-term use. Still, the medical route is often a very good way to go. In seeking an insomnia remedy, it is possible the real cause for the condition will be found. This will likely lead to a cure rather than just an insomnia remedy.

Spiritual

Insomnia is often causes by stress and anxiety. Learning to relax, meditate and gain spiritual focus can help. Insomnia remedy ideas in this realm include relaxation techniques, mediation and even praying. Anything that can calm the heart and soul can often help when stress is the cause. If stress isn't the cause, the spiritual insomnia remedy ideas likely will not work.

Diet

Foods, drinks and even eating times are all known to cause insomnia. When this is a likely problem, changing diet can often help. The insomnia remedy ideas here include cutting out sodas and coffee, changing eating times and even switching to a healthy, balanced diet for overall better health. This can, in fact, help serve as a great insomnia remedy while also helping with overall physical well being.

Finding the right insomnia remedy is often a game of trial and error. The options are many, so it is possible for almost anyone to find the right insomnia remedy to handle their case. From medical and natural to spiritual and dietary, the options for insomnia remedy ideas are not singular, nor are the causes for the condition.

Stopping insomnia

The Cause Of Primary And Secondary Insomnia

Although we often ask 'what causes insomnia', it is important to understand that the causes will depend very much on whether you are suffering from primary or secondary insomnia.

Primary insomnia is insomnia which does not have a specific medical or emotional root. For example, primary insomnia is insomnia that does not appear as a side-effect of medication or as a symptom of an emotional or medical disorder. In other words primary disorder can be linked directly to its cause and is a primary, rather than a secondary, result of that cause.

A good example of primary insomnia would be insomnia resulting from long-haul air travel. Here it is the shift in your body's internal clock, which is a direct result of air travel, which causes your insomnia. Another good example is shift work insomnia in which you are asking your body to sleep when its internal clock says you should be awake and to work when your clock says you should be sleeping.

Secondary insomnia is often much more complex and can be caused by a whole variety of different things.

A common cause of secondary insomnia is an emotional disorder such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Other emotional disorders also giving rise to insomnia as a secondary symptom might include Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

There are also a number of common medical conditions which can give rise to insomnia including those with accompanying chronic pain, such as arthritis; those which affect breathing, such as asthma or certain heart problems and a range of general conditions including an overactive thyroid, gastrointestinal difficulties and heartburn.

Other sleep problems can themselves also give rise to insomnia and a good example of this would be restless leg syndrome.

Perhaps the commonest cause of secondary insomnia however is seen in the side-effects of a range of medications and in other chemical substances which we put into our bodies.

Medicines used to treat the common cold, asthma, allergies and heart conditions can often lead to insomnia. In addition, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine account for a substantial proportion of people suffering from insomnia.

Perhaps the most surprising cause of secondary insomnia however is to be found in sedatives - the common sleeping pill. Although sleeping pills can be very helpful in the short-term many people continue to take them for extended periods and unwittingly cause rather than cure their insomnia.

Stopping insomnia

All About Insomnia Symptoms, Tips, Relief and Treatment

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder among all ages, especially among senior citizens. The patient should remember or write down all the insomnia symptoms he/she experiences and discuss with the physician to help in making a correct diagnosis. The most typical of all insomnia symptoms is difficulty in sleeping. Encounters with anxiety and/or depression are two main symptoms associated with insomnia. Insomnia symptoms include poor concentration and short memory. Insomniac people usually awake prematurely during sleep and have trouble falling asleep again. Insomniacs feel irritability without any obvious cause. It is especially experienced during the day. People suffering from insomnia frequently experience decreased alertness and mental sluggishness.

Insomnia symptoms may last for a little or longer time, depending on the type of insomnia. In case of Transient Insomnia, the symptoms last for a few nights. In Short-Term Insomnia, the symptoms stay for two to three weeks. If they last more than three weeks, the patient is suffering from Chronic Insomnia. Health experts also sometimes distinguish between primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is characterized by symptoms of difficulty in falling asleep, waking several times during sleep, and fatigue. These symptoms last for a month and has unknown cause. In secondary insomnia, there is a known underlying medical condition. Depression is major cause of secondary insomnia.

To diagnose the condition of sleeplessness as insomnia, the physician makes sure that the symptoms are not being caused by other sleep disorders or other disease or side effects of any medication. Along with the symptoms of insomnia, other disorders may be detected in the same patient; these include mania, depression, phobias, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Help for Insomnia

It is often possible to fight insomnia with simple home remedies; however, when the insomnia crosses two weeks and you start feeling groggy, disoriented, acutely irritated and totally lost, it is time you go for professional insomnia help.

The treatments available for insomnia are varied and very efficient. Reaching at the right diagnosis is quite problematic, which involves a battery of tests and long-drawn assessment studies. This is why people usually avoid asking for professional insomnia help unless it becomes too much to bear otherwise. Most of the times, the homemade cures will dramatically improve your condition; however, in case you still experience this problem, it could be an indication of some serious health problem which would necessitate a doctor's opinion. You should always keep in mind that prevention is better than cure. A timely medical intervention may save your life.

Tips for Insomnia

Insomnia tips no 1 - Do not sleep or even take a cat nap (those 10-20 minutes forty winks), if you are prone to insomnia attacks. Maintain strict timings both for sleep and for your meals.

Insomnia tips no 2 - Eat your dinner at least four hours ahead of your bed time. For example, if you normally retire at 10:30 pm, have your dinner at 6:30 - 7:00 pm latest. Often insomnia is aggravated by digestive problems, and hence, it is best to avoid the problem altogether.

Insomnia tips no 3 - Avoid any drink that influences sleep, such as coffee in any form, alcohol, and even tea (unless it is medicated). In case you must have your regular cup of coffee, at least ensure that you take it before a minimum of four hours from your bedtime.

Insomnia tips no 4 - Introduce daily exercise in your routine. In case you are not too fond of physical exercise, you can simply take a walk for about 30 minutes daily; try to gradually increase it to one hour or so for best results.

Insomnia tips no 5 - If you find that you cannot sleep, do not fight it. Sleep usually comes after your body relaxes completely. The best thing to do is get up from the bed and do something that you enjoy (reading, listing to music, writing letters to dear ones, etc) aiming to relax your mind and body.

Treatment for Insomnia

Majority of people suffering from sleep disorders turn to pills and medications. This proves to be working at first, but gradually some problems arise that need serious consideration before one starts with a particular kind of sleeping pills or medication. These days, both over the counter medications and prescriptions pills are used for insomnia treatment.

Over the counter medications for insomnia are usually ineffective in log term insomnia treatment. First of all, they do not ensure the quality of sleep enjoyed by healthy people. They give about 5 % duration of deep sleep while in healthy sleep this duration is 10 % to 25 %. Secondly, over the counter drugs for insomnia mostly work by the action of antihistamines (anti-allergic chemicals) present in them. These include chemicals like diphenhydramine citrate, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, and doxylamine succinate. While antihistamines do cast a sedating effect, they are not to be used by people with prostate problems, angina, heart problems, and urinary problems. Antihistamines can add to the intensity of these conditions. Finally, over the counter drugs have a number of side effects like: drowsiness and dizziness (that may remain for twenty four hours), memory lapses, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and urinary retention.

Various types of medications, collectively called hyptonics, are prescribed for insomnia treatment. Hypnotics generally fall in three categories: benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, and antidepressants. Most of the health experts agree on using insomnia medications for a short period only. In all cases of using over the counter drugs or prescribed medications, it is important that the patient educate him/herself well on the possible side effects.

Stopping insomnia

7 Facts About Insomnia You Really Ought to Know

When it comes to the facts about insomnia, many people are confused. Some think insomnia is a serious condition in which the affected individual goes for weeks or even months without sleep. Others believe that insomnia can only be treated with prescription drugs and doctor visits. Mistruths and misconceptions like these aside, you're about to discover the true facts about insomnia and how it can affect you.

1. There isn't only one generic case of insomnia. In reality, insomnia has 3 different classifications; transient insomnia, short-term insomnia, and chronic insomnia. Transient typically lasts less then a week; short-term lasts just a few weeks; and chronic insomnia lasts 3 weeks or more.

2. The effect of insomnia spreads much further than a mere lack of concentration and focus. Irritability, impaired motor skills, exhaustion, impaired memory, blurry vision, stress intolerance, constant appetite changes, and discomfort are just a few of the other symptoms of this sleeping disorder.

3. Prescription drugs and medications are not the only way to treat insomnia; and believe it or not, sometimes they are completely unnecessary. Keep in mind though, some cases of insomnia (chronic insomnia for instance) may require drugs and medications in order for the person to achieve a deep sleep.

4. Insomnia can be caused by nearly anything, including: work shirt changes, jet lag, stress, poor diet, poor sleeping environment, drug withdrawal, alcohol abuse, depression, OTC (over the counter) drugs, and much more.

5. There are several ways to prevent insomnia; the easiest of which is to just get a sound sleep each and every night. Relaxation therapy techniques can be used so that you can get relaxed each night before bed. Relaxation is key for getting a good nights rest.

6. The symptoms of insomnia are extremely similar to other illnesses and diseases, which therefore makes this disorder a bit difficult to diagnosis accurately.

7. Insomnia, when left unchecked, is a doorway to other illnesses and diseases. Why? Because of the effect your lack of sleep has on your immune system, which will now have great difficulty fighting off any sort of infections (bacterial or viral).

The 7 facts about insomnia above are just a few of the important things you need to know about this widespread sleeping disorder. Will these facts help you cure your insomnia problem? No, probably not; but, they will help you to better understand your condition.

Stopping insomnia

Insomnia Causes, Chronic Insomnia

Most people at some time experience sleepless nights or insomnia. It is thought that ten percent of the population experience chronic insomnia and about fifty percent are effected to some degree. Insomnia is not a disease, but a symptom of something else. The definition of insomnia is "habitual sleeplessness, not being able to stay asleep or not being able to fall asleep or both". Insomnia can be contributed to the amount of sleep one gets and also the quality of sleep a person gets. People tend to have a large range in the amount of sleep they need, that is why insomnia is not defined by the amount of sleep a person gets. Most people know when they are suffering from insomnia based on how they feel the next day. The medical community will diagnose insomnia based on how long the problem has been occurring. Not all medical professionals agree on the symptoms of insomnia, but general guidelines are listed below.

Transient Insomnia - Insomnia that last a week or less.

Short Term Insomnia - Insomnia that last between one and three weeks.

Chronic Insomnia - Insomnia that last more then three weeks.

Some Basic statistics about Insomnia.
All age groups are effected by insomnia. Insomnia tends to effect more women then men in adults. As people age insomnia tends to increase. Insomnia is most common in lower income levels, people with mental health problems and alcoholics. Stress is considered the major cause or trigger for insomnia. It is important to do something about transient and short term insomnia so it does not develop into chronic insomnia.

What can cause insomnia?
Insomnia can be caused by a wide range of things. Typically they can be categorized into the groups psychiatric, medical or situational factors. Some of the common causes of short term and transient insomnia include - work schedule changes, irritating noise, jet lag, stress, sleeping room temperature, medical problems, drug withdraws, altitude.

Chronic insomnia is usually related to a medical condition or psychiatric condition. Some psychiatric things that cause insomnia are stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Doctors use the symptom of insomnia in diagnoses of mental illness and depression. This does not mean that if you suffer from insomnia that you suffer from depression or a mental illness.

There are also several physical conditions that can cause insomnia. These include - disorder in the circadian rhythm, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, heart condition, angina, acid reflux, asthma, sleep apnea, parkinson's or alzheimer's disease and brain trauma. People who fall into the following categories are considered high risk for insomnia - travelers, people who change shifts often, senior adults, pregnant women, students and women experiencing menopause. There are also several different types of medication related to insomnia, these include - cold and asthma medication, high blood pressure medication along with medication used to treat anxiety and depression. Some other causes of insomnia can include caffeine, nicotine, alcohol (will cause poor quality of sleep) and a bed partner who is disruptive.

Some common symptoms of insomnia include - not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep, problems concentrating when awake, problem remembering things, poor coordination, bad moods, trouble staying awake while driving. When people have these symptoms they sometimes make their insomnia worse by treating them with excessive amounts of caffeine, energy drinks and stimulants.

Stopping insomnia

Natural Remedies for Insomnia - How to Treat Insomnia Without Side Effects

For people who suffer from sleep disorders, perhaps only insomnia solution they use are medications. Usually different kinds of negative effects may be caused due to use of a drug or medical treatment. But there are many effective natural treatments for insomnia without side effects. One of them is by using non-medicate insomnia remedies.

Insomnia occurs when for some reason the natural sleep patterns are disturbed. This leads to difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep long enough to feel fresh, relaxed and reinvigorated the next days. The person who suffers from insomnia experiences side effects such as tiredness, mental fatigue, inability to concentrate and lack of energy. Some people have sleep disturbances for short periods and others endure chronic insomnia for months or sometimes years.

There are four stages of sleep each deeper than the other and it's important for a person to reach the deepest sleep phase to avoid suffering from insomnia.

Insomnia Causes

How to treat insomnia depends on the cause of the condition, of which there are many home remedies that don't leave side effects. Insomnia help begins with analysing the sleeping habits and environment of the person.

Noise

Is there noise or disturbance at night that may prevent you from entering into the deep stages of sleep vital to restfulness? Treating insomnia may be as easy as blocking out the night noises.

Sleep Patterns

Diverting from your normal sleep patterns is another reason. Our bodies function on an internal biological clock that also controls waking and sleeping patterns. If you suffer from sleeping disorders then an insomnia tip could be to review return to your normal sleeping hours.

Alcohol

Alcohol can trigger sleeplessness. The immediate effect of alcohol intake is to generate sleepiness. But excess alcohol de-hydrates the body this state of water deficiency keeps your brain partly awake. Recovering alcoholics have noted the difficulty in getting back to normal sleeping patterns even years after quitting. Controlling or cutting out alcohol especially close to bedtime hours is a natural insomnia remedy.

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are big instigators of sleep disturbances. Emotional and mental stress has the effect of keeping your mind awake and worrying and unable to relax. Relaxation techniques such as Tai Chi, Yoga and deep breathing exercises can provide insomnia relief by helping the mind and body to calm down. Learning to manage difficulties with a positive attitude can contribute towards treatment of insomnia related to emotional tension.

Sleep Apnea

Some people suffer from sleep apnea. It is a medical condition in which the soft tissues of the throat over-relax during sleep causing obstruction to the breathing. Sleep apnea sufferers often complain of insomnia. There are medical techniques for treating sleep apnea which in turn will give the person insomnia relief.

Pregnancy or Menopausal Insomnia

Women may experience pregnancy insomnia or menopausal insomnia, which both are linked to changes in hormone levels. The doctor may prescribe an insomnia remedy of hormone therapy for menopause but it may not be recommended for expectant mothers. But overall there are many options to treat insomnia without side effects.

Other Causes

The link between disease and sleeplessness is common in illnesses such as gastrointestinal conditions, kidney ailments, heart conditions and high blood pressure. Doctors will prescribe remedies for the major disease and the treatment of insomnia, the secondary condition.

Stopping insomnia

How to Cure Insomnia

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.

Stopping insomnia

Tips For Handling Pregnancy Insomnia

Pregnancy insomnia is one of the most difficult types of this sleeping plague to tackle. The fact is the actual cause will soon be born into a bouncing bundle of joy, but that doesn't make dealing with the sleepless nights of pregnancy insomnia any easier to take. There are some things that can help.

Ideas for tackling pregnancy insomnia hinge greatly on the most likely cause. This type of insomnia can be caused by the position of the baby itself or by other factors such as stress, anxiety and even eating habits. The cures for pregnancy insomnia relate to the causes.

The best ways to handle pregnancy insomnia include:

· Adjusting sleep position: If the baby is the reason for pregnancy insomnia, this can help greatly. Try using pillows, sleeping upright if necessary and even taking walks to adjust the position of the little one.

· Go to the bathroom before bed: Especially in the later stages of pregnancy, having to go to the bathroom a lot can be the blame for pregnancy insomnia. Emptying the bladder before bedtime and cutting fluid intake can help prevent this cause of pregnancy insomnia from cropping up (too much) during the course of a night.

· Aromatherapy: Lavender can help people go to sleep. Make sure this idea is okay with a doctor before trying it, however. If it is, lavender aromatherapy candles or oils diffused in a room might assist.

· Deep breathing: If pregnancy insomnia is caused by stress, this can help greatly. Learning how to let go and relax will help. The baby will come, you will be able to feed it and everything will work out in the end. Knowing this and actually convincing yourself of it can help a whole lot.

· Relaxation techniques: These can help greatly with pregnancy insomnia, as well. Coupled with deep breathing, gentle stretching and other similar movements can assist in relieving tension.

· Talking it out: If pregnancy insomnia is caused by stress, talking out the issues can sometimes help. Make plans for the baby and let your spouse or significant other know what is on your mind.

· Change eating habits: Many cases of pregnancy insomnia are caused by improper eating habits. When food intake is causing heartburn or acid reflux, eating less at night can help a whole lot. Also, if you haven't already, cut out caffeine and other similar products. These can add to pregnancy insomnia a whole lot and they are not good for the baby.

Dealing with pregnancy insomnia isn't easy, but it can be done. Do not take medications, however, or try forms of therapy that might harm the child. If concerns are high, make sure to bring them up with a doctor. Do remember that pregnancy insomnia goes away. Of course it is replaced by 2 a.m. feedings, but that is another story.

Stopping insomnia

Facts About Insomnia - A Smart Guide to Insomnia

Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a disease in which a person suffers from troubled sleeping patterns. Sleeping at night is an inseparable and vital part of human life that helps rejuvenate our body, mind and soul. When an individual doesn't sleep, one can be assured that he/she is suffering with some form of physical, psychological or emotional disturbances. For this reason, a person suffering from insomnia becomes desperate to come out of it.

With existing lifestyles, every person is sure to suffer with insomnia at some point of life. Hence, one must be aware of some important facts about insomnia so as to find a right treatment for the illness. Some of these facts are listed below.

What is Insomnia? - Insomnia is the perception or a complaint of insufficient or unsatisfactory sleep. Without sleep the person feels tired and fatigued. Our mental functions like our ability to earn, remember and concentrate gets diminished. Our overall well being gets negatively affected.

What Causes Insomnia? - The causes of insomnia are varied and can be grouped into physiological, psychological and environmental causes. Physiological causes include some long term physical ailments or chemical imbalance inside the brain. Psychological causes include anxiety and depression. Environmental factors include stress caused either due to environmental pollutants or pressure at the work place. Insomnia can be caused either due to a single factor or can occur as a result of culmination of several factors. For getting insomnia relief, the underlying cause must be known.

Insomnia relief methods: - Insomnia can be mild, chronic or acute depending on the frequency of the symptoms. One can gain Insomnia relief through lifestyle changes. However, this method helps only when the symptoms are mild. In case, insomnia is of acute form, one must seek medical help for getting insomnia relief. Sleep medications are the most commonly prescribed medicines for insomnia. However, prolonged use of sleeping pills often develops side effects such as

Drug tolerance.
Drug dependence
Withdrawal symptoms

Apart from these sleep medications also result in drowsiness the next day, confusion, forgetfulness and dry mouth. These side effects can be severe. If medication is stopped, sometimes the insomnia can become even worse than before.

An effective alternative is to opt for natural remedies for insomnia. This is one of the most ancient ways of treating insomnia that provides insomnia relief without causing any side effects. Also, beneficial are certain insomnia tips good sleep environment, relaxation and behavioral techniques that provide the necessary aid without risk of medication side effects or tolerance.

Insomnia Tips: - Insomnia is a condition that can get easily cured by following some simple and effective insomnia tips. Some of these insomnia tips are as follows:

Exercise regularly and ensure that you lead an active lifestyle.
Yoga and meditation helps in curing insomnia as it calms our mind and makes us peaceful thereby enabling sleep.
Consumption of alcohol and caffeine must be limited. Alcohol induces a false sense of euphoria and also results in troubled sleeping patterns.
Develop a regular sleeping schedule. This will help regulate your circadian rhythms and your natural biological clock.
Try and maintain a peaceful environment when trying to sleep. Also, ensure you're your bedroom temperature is comfortable so that it relaxes your body.
Avoid heavy meals before bedtime.
Hot foot bath and application of hot bag on the spine relaxes body and induces sleep.
A table spoon of honey in sweet milk is a very effective method to prevent insomnia.

By keeping all this information and tips in mind, you should have a greater understanding of the facts about insomnia. With just a little more research, you should be well on your way to getting the relief or your loved one needs.

Stopping insomnia

Insomnia Sleep Problems Can Impact Lives Greatly

Dealing with insomnia sleep problems is never easy. If the condition persists over time, there can be very great consequences that result. With this in mind, people with severe insomnia sleep problems very likely should seek out remedies either medically or through self-examination.

The options for treatment of insomnia sleep problems will vary depending on the cause. Sometimes it's nothing more than removing a little stress from one's life, but others will find they have more serious issues to tackle before sleep will come easily. Causes can include such things as medications, anxiety, pain and even pregnancy. When insomnia sleep issues persist, getting help is almost always advised. Letting them go too long can lead to many insomnia sleep problem consequences.

The most common consequences of long-term insomnia sleep problems include:

· Health complaints. People with long-term insomnia sleep disruptions often find they don't heal as fast as other, they might not fight off infections as well and they generally do not feel as good as they once may have.

· Irritability. Those who suffer from long-term insomnia sleep problems are quite often classified as cranky and irritable. Without the necessary sleep to keep things in focus, the littlest things can set these people off.

· Depression. Insomnia sleep problems that continue have been known to lead to serious psychological conditions. By clouding a person's judgment and their ability to react correctly to the world around them, these insomnia sleep problems can lead to isolation, feeling of self-loathing and more. Other factors likely will go into the mix, but insomnia sleep problems can most certainly add to it.

· Performance issues. Insomnia sleep concerns can impact everything a person does. From their performance at work to their handling of personal relationships, all aspects of life can be impacted greatly. When insomnia sleep problems are particularly bad, they can lead to loss of employment, interpersonal relationships crumbling and more.

· Fatality. This is not the most common outcome of insomnia sleep disorders, but it can result. When insomnia sleep problems get in the way of everyday function, things can go wrong with health and even in ability to handle heavy equipment, such as driving an automobile. With more than 100,000 crashes a year chalked up to drivers falling asleep at the wheel, insomnia sleep concerns are a real problem for some.

When insomnia sleep concerns persist, getting help or trying to tackle the root cause is very likely a good idea. Whether the insomnia sleep issue is caused by pain, stress or even medications, finding the root cause often leads to the real cure. When this is found, it is possible for people to avoid the consequences that can go along with insomnia sleep problems.

Stopping insomnia

Cures For Insomnia

Insomnia, defined as trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, is a common problem. Insomnia can occur in people of all ages. Most individuals just experience a night or two of poor sleep, but sometimes the sleep disturbance can last for weeks, months, or even years. Insomniacs typically complain of being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Insomnia is most common among women and older adults.

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. Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time or another in their lives. Insomnia is a common problem that may be temporary or chronic. An estimated 30-50% of the general population are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia.

Most people over 70 need less than 6 hours sleep per night; and they tend to be light sleepers. Insomnia is a common problem that may be temporary or chronic. As many as one in 10 Americans have chronic insomnia, and at least one in four has difficulty sleeping sometimes. But that doesn't mean you have to just put up with sleepless nights. Some simple changes in your daily routine and habits may result in better sleep. Insomnia affects all age groups.

Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia. Chronic insomnia can lead to mental health problems such as depression, or misuse of alcohol or other medicines in order to gain sleep. 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, its normal to need less sleep.

Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short-term or acute insomnia.Insomnia affects all age groups. Among older adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence increases with age. Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep. Insomnia may cause problems during the day, such as tiredness, a lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. Insomnia can be classified as transient (short term), intermittent (on and off), and chronic (constant).

Insomnia lasting from a single night to a few weeks is referred to as transient. Insomnia may be a symptom of magnesium deficiency, or lower magnesium levels. A healthy diet containing magnesium, can help to improve sleep in individuals without an adequate intake of magnesium. Short-acting benzodiazepines or the newer hypnotic 'Z medicines' are the current preferred medicines for insomnia and are only available on prescription. Benzodiazepines are tranquillisers and are designed to reduce anxiety and promote calmness, relaxation and sleep.

Insomnia Treatment Tips

1. Using aromatherapy, including jasmine oil, lavender oil, Mahabhringaraj and other relaxing essential oils, may also help induce a state of restfulness.

2. Relaxation techniques such as meditation have been shown to help people sleep.

3. Traditional Chinese medicine has included treatment for insomnia.

4. A healthy diet containing magnesium, can help to improve sleep in individuals without an adequate intake of magnesium.

5. Melatonin has proved effective for some insomniacs in regulating the sleep/waking cycle.

6. Avoid or limit your use of caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas, chocolate), decongestants, alcohol and tobacco.

7. Exercise more often, but don't exercise within a few hours before going to bed.

8. Behavioral treatments teach you new sleep behaviors and ways to make your sleeping environment more conducive to sleep.

9. Antidepressant trazodone (Desyrel) also may help with insomnia.

8. Avoid or limit tea, coffee, chocolate, and cold remedies containing caffeine.

9. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking as these are also stimulants.

Stopping insomnia

Acupuncture Insomnia Cures Are Available

When sleep is elusive and the effects are being felt, people go down all kinds of roads to find a solution. One of the most interesting and perhaps beneficial ways to tackle insomnia is to consider ancient, alternative medicine. One such cure is acupuncture insomnia treatment.

This method might seem a little "out there" to some, but the truth is many cultures have practiced acupuncture insomnia cures for hundreds and even thousands of years. This ancient Chinese practice has proven useful in helping people tackle everything from pain and addiction to stress and anxiety.

To see how acupuncture insomnia cures can help, it is important to understand the root causes of most cases of insomnia. When these are examined, the method in which acupuncture insomnia cures works becomes quite clear.

The main causes for this condition include:

· Stress, anxiety. When the mind refuses to shut off at night, sleep can be impossible to attain. By helping people address their stress and anxiety, acupuncture insomnia cures free them to enjoy not only sleep, but also life. An acupuncture insomnia treatment can often be followed with advice for tackling stress and anxiety for a truly beneficial holistic approach. If an approach to better handling stress and anxiety isn't adopted, it is likely acupuncture insomnia treatments might need to be repeated down the road.

· Addiction. Caffeine addiction or abuse is another major reason people face the throes of insomnia. The techniques involved for acupuncture insomnia cures can also be used to help people battle addiction problems. Although caffeine might seem like a minor addiction in the grand scheme of things, it can wreak havoc with sleep.

· Pain. This is a huge reason why so many people suffer from insomnia. When this is the cause, acupuncture insomnia cures can really help. One of the best applications for acupuncture is in pain reduction. When the pain is reduced or controlled, the acupuncture insomnia cure has done its job. Long-term treatments might be necessary for chronic conditions, but they can help keep sleep issues at bay. When pain is the cause of sleep disorders, acupuncture insomnia treatments tend to work very well for some people.

Living with insomnia is classified by many as hardly living at all. When other treatments sound too harsh or they just don't do the trick, acupuncture insomnia procedures often provide what is needed to find relief. By helping the body help itself, acupuncture insomnia treatment can be very beneficial when it is followed up with methods to tackle the root problems themselves. It is even possible that acupuncture insomnia treatment will take care of the cause in the process.

Typical acupuncture insomnia treatments might take several visits, especially if pain management or stress reduction is needed, as well. Following through can make a big difference for many. It has worked for people for hundreds, even thousands of years.

Stopping insomnia

Insomnia in Children and Women and Various Prescribed Medicines for Insomnia

While insomnia prevails among a notable proportion of adults, children too suffer from sleep disorders. Insomnia in children is characterized by signs of wakefulness or restlessness daily at night, irritability or heaviness on waking from sleep, mood swings, lack of concentration, and unusual difficulty with remembering.

Causes of Insomnia in Children

In children, the causes of insomnia are generally more easy to work out that in grown ups. If your child suffers from any of the symptoms listed above, look for any one or more of these causes that usually cause insomnia in children: stress, diet, anxiety, fear, physical problems (constipation, pain etc.), and disturbed routine (watching TV late in the night, over use of computer, video games etc.)

Insomnia in Women

A good number of women suffer from insomnia in early pregnancy. Insomnia In Early Pregnancy Is Mostly Caused By Discomfort And Anxiety. Most people attribute the insomnia in early pregnancy to the hormonal imbalances - while in some cases this would be true, there are plenty instances where the insomnia in early pregnancy is caused by the excitement and anxiety of being pregnant. . To counteract the problem, you will have to consult a doctor since self medication would be contraindicated once you are confirmed to be pregnant.

Insomnia during Pregnancy

Studies have found that about 78 % of pregnant women suffer from insomnia for varying durations. However, physicians believe that insomnia during pregnancy is normal and not dangerous to the infant's health. A number of reasons account for sleeping difficulties encountered during pregnancy. In many cases, the growing size of the abdomen is the main cause of sleeplessness. Pressure eon the bladder caused by increased size of the abdomen makes it necessary to urinate several times during the night. The pregnant woman feels trouble with finding a comfortable position for sleeping. Feeling the baby's movement can also cause waking up at night. Heartburn and back pain are two main physical problems that cause insomnia during pregnancy. There might be aching in the hips, causing discomfort. Hormonal changes and psychological conditions like anxiety and/or depression are other main causes of sleeplessness.

Coping With Insomnia during Pregnancy

The first thing to do is to prevent you from getting overly anxious, just looking at the time and worrying about sleep. Taking a warm bath, before going to bed, brings comfort and relaxes you to sleep. Relaxation exercises like yoga and meditation etc. are helpful in relieving anxiety and bringing sleep. You can also ask your partner for a massage. Take plenty of exercise during the day or in the evening but not too close to bedtime. Exercise will make you tired and hence drive you to sleep. Also try to avoid taking naps in the day. If you get up several times to urinate during the course of the night, take fewer fluids after 4 pm. Also avoid taking caffeine drinks in the evening. Their stimulating effect is a sleep antagonist. Keep the temperature of the bedroom at a comfortable level. Keep the window open for fresh air to reach you. Use additional blankets to keep you warm if the room feels cold.

Menopause and Insomnia in Women

Women going through their menopause frequently suffer from insomnia. Menopause and insomnia co-occur due to the reduction and imbalance of hormones associated with menopause. The resulting stress, anxiety, and depression deprive the menopausal woman of sleep. Accompanying these sleep disturbances are hot flashes and sweats that are the characteristic symptoms of menopause.

Treatment for Menopausal Insomnia

Insomnia is treated in a variety of ways like prescribed medications, herbal formulas, relaxation techniques, exercises, psychological treatment (if anxiety or depression are the main cause), lifestyle changes, home remedies and nutrition etc. For menopause and insomnia co-occurring, hormone replacement therapy is also used. However, it is not effective in all women and different women going through menopause respond differently to this therapy. When the body's hormonal imbalance settles down by itself, the insomnia associated with it also disappears.

Various Prescribed Medicines for Insomnia

Trazodone is an antidepressant available in the drug market under the brand name Desyrel or Desyrel Dividose. Besides treating depression, loss of motivation for daily activities, and other symptoms, Trazodone is frequently prescribed for treating symptoms of insomnia.

Over the years, lexapro and insomnia have been connected together because of the fact that most people who have taken this drug ends up suffering from insomnia. According to experts, lexapro is one of the most effective drugs for treating depression especially in children and adolescents. Unfortunately, lexapro and insomnia seem to have become so closely associated that when you think of lexapro and insomnia, you immediately associate it with cause and effect where lexapro becomes the cause of insomnia.

Melatonin is a hormone that the body produces naturally. It is also a powerful antioxidant. Melatonin is reported to help to have a sedative effect on the body, helping to induce sleep in many. It is non-toxic and no side effects have been officially reported while using this therapy. Using melatonin for insomnia is a fairly well-known practice in society.

Prozac is certain type of medicine that is commonly used to treat depression in people. As an anti-depressant, prozac is rather effective and is said to be very good in helping people with anxiety disorders and eating disorders. However, the bad news about prozac is that it can have some serious side effects including insomnia.

Stopping insomnia

Insomnia Medication Can Help

Getting a good night's sleep is important for just about everything a person does. From maintaining health and attitude to being able to perform at peak, sleep is simply a necessity. When insomnia is an issue, there are some insomnia medication options that can help.

Insomnia medication comes in all kinds of forms. Some insomnia medication is given via prescription only. Other brands of insomnia medication can be purchased over the counter for self-treatment. Which type and how much a person requires will likely depend on how bad the case of insomnia is and how long it has gone on. Some people only require help for one or two nights; others might require more assistance.

Prescription insomnia medication should only be taken under a doctor's supervision. This medication includes such things as Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata and more. These medications have all proven very useful in helping patients get the sleep they so need. Unfortunately, many forms of insomnia medication can pack some pretty serious side effects, so most doctors recommend only taking them as a short-term solution. One of the most frightening side effects of long-term use can be an actual addition to sleeping aids and insomnia medication.

While there are risks that go along with insomnia medication, especially in the prescription form, these medications can help a person get back on the right path. In doing so, it is possible the insomnia medication will no longer be needed because the root cause of the problem has been addressed.

Pharmacies also carry insomnia medication that does not require a prescription. These medications are generally lower dose, but can still produce great results with their use. Some precautions usually exist with these sleep aids, as well. It is important to read the labels and proceed with caution.

While they are not insomnia medication options in the strictest sense, there are some other options out there. Herbal medicine, warm milk, aromatherapy and other options can work as well or better than insomnia medication for some people. These alternatives are worth looking into, especially for those who have had trouble with other insomnia medication options in the past.

Dealing with insomnia is not easy. When the condition persists, it can impact every aspect of a person's life. While insomnia medication can help in the short-term, most people are advised to pursue the root cause and tackle that to get rid of the problem. Such things as stress, illness, medications and more can cause insomnia. Finding the cause often leads to the cure.

When insomnia is a big problem, insomnia medication might be the best route to take to ensure at least one decent night's sleep. When these medications are considered, it is a very good idea to proceed with caution, however.

Stopping insomnia

Effect of Insomnia - The Shocking Truth About Its Causes and Effects

Almost every individual suffers with insomnia at some point in their life. In certain cases, insomnia is sporadic in nature because it appears and disappears without any specific reason. In others, the symptoms of insomnia tend to persist for a prolonged during leading to a chronic or severe state of illness. The effect of insomnia on normal human life can be profound as it can negatively impact people of all ages. Some of the more common effects include:

In insomnia, the person feels very tired, fatigued and energy levels get severely reduced. As a result, person doesn't feel interested any of the daily activities of life.


Mental functions like our ability to learn, remember and concentrate gets affected. These can have a severe impact on the efficiency because performance levels tend to drop at an alarming rate.


Some people become very irritable and flare up for no reason. The constant irritability and unreasonable mood swings in turn puts a lot of strain on professional as well as private relationships.


Another major effect of insomnia is lack of self-confidence and depression. People develop tendencies such as self-apathy and self-pity.

In chronic cases, person with insomnia symptoms suffers with lack of concentration and are unable to react quickly. This results in an increased risk of accidents and injuries. Also, thoughts of self-annihilation and suicide manifest prominently in case of severe insomnia.

Due to all these effects, people suffering with insomnia symptoms find it tough to handle aspects like marital stress, keeping a job or other relationship problems. People even resort to excessive consumption of tobacco and alcohol, thereby leading to several other major health complications. Even the immune system of the body gets compromised due to insomnia, thereby rendering the individual to several illnesses.

Although insomnia is very common in today's rapidly changing world, the clarity about the exact causes of insomnia is still not there. Insomnia or sleeplessness is caused due to various reasons some of which are the increasing demands and desires of human beings, unrealistic expectations in both personal and professional life and the constant stress, anxiety and strain appearing in our daily life. These factors also provide the necessary impetus for the growth of depression.

Insomnia sometimes may be transient or appear for short phase either due to some sudden tension in professional or personal life or due to some physical reasons. Transient insomnia eases off without the need of any specific treatment. However, if insomnia lasts for more than a month it becomes acute or chronic in nature. The more frequent the symptoms of insomnia appear, the more severe the disease becomes. Some major causes of insomnia are briefly described below.

It is found that elderly people are more prone to insomnia because of higher incidence of chronic physical ailments such as menopause, hyperthyroidism, arthritis, asthma, and chronic pain in the leg (restless leg syndrome), heart disease, diabetes or hypoglycemia, heartburn, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or other chronic illnesses.
Use of medication like anti depressant and pain killers cause insomnia as a side effect
Over consumption of either caffeinated substances or alcohol can disturb the overall sleep patterns of an individual.
Excessively loud music or any other form of noise disturbs the sleep quality severely.
Extremely gold or hot environment can also discourage the onset of sleep as the body continuously tried to adjust to the temperature.
Sleep eludes many people when they spend the night at a new place (either a hotel or at a relative's place) because change in a person's surrounding environment does not allow the person to feel relaxed completely.

Important facts about insomnia are that the disease is a perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep that needs to be treated as immediately as possible. Depending on the frequency and severity of symptoms, insomnia may be categorized as mild, chronic or acute. Treatment of insomnia also varies accordingly. In case of mild insomnia, a simple change in perspective, dietary habits or lifestyle patterns helps to cure insomnia. However, if insomnia is of acute form then medical help is necessary. Another alternative is to use herbal remedies for insomnia.

A complete knowledge on the facts about insomnia, its underlying causes and the effect of insomnia is important to understand the disease in a better sense and spread awareness. With the information included here, you should have a good starting point to work from.

Stopping insomnia

Natural Treatments For Insomnia Are Better?

Natural treatments for insomnia are slowly receiving acceptance from insomnia patients as a preferred choice of treatment for insomnia. Our generation has always been a generation that seeks for instant gratification and answers to our problems and needs. This has influenced our philosophy towards illnesses and diseases. We want quick fixes to our sicknesses. Unfortunately, a lot of these quick fixes such as over-the-counter and prescribed medicines and drugs for insomnia can only take care of our problems for a moment. Perhaps the answer we are seeking for our insomnia problems lie in natural treatments for insomnia.

Sleep is needed in order for our bodies to recover and rejuvenate. A recent studies conducted showed that as much as 20 percent of our adult population suffer from insomnia at different stages of their lives. Another staggering finding reveals that more than half of our elderly folks are experiencing difficulties in sleeping. Surely this makes the understanding of insomnia and its proper treatment important.

It is easy to obtain over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed medicines and drugs for insomnia. We may pop a sleeping pill or two on the days we find hard to fall asleep. But pill popping seems to have taken center stage in many homes as the number one method of treating insomnia. There are health risks and drawbacks in doing so. Antihistamines or benzodiazepines are often prescribed to treat insomnia. These drugs may be able to put you to sleep almost instantly but taking them regularly for a prolonged period of time could result in harmful side effects like drug addiction, withdrawal symptoms, disruption of natural sleep patterns and drug tolerance. People using OTC and prescribed medicines may suffer from side effects like blurring of vision, urinary problems, giddiness and abdominal problems.

Natural treatments for insomnia on the other hand tend to emphasize on curing the root causes of insomnia. Most of the time, they do not interfere with the natural sleep cycle but aids the body to respond and readjust to its natural sleeping patterns. Some foods, herbs and supplements have been used quite widely to improve sleep.

Changing your diet is a good step towards treating insomnia. An anti-insomnia diet is one of the best natural treatments for insomnia. Eating foods which are rich in tryptophan would help to improve sleep. Tyrotophan, an essential amino acid promotes production of melatonin a sleep-inducing hormone. Dairy products such as cheese and milk, poultry, whole grains, soy products such as tofu, soy bean milk, nuts such as peanuts and hazelnuts and eggs are all rich in tryptophan.

Foods high in carbohydrates are great sleepers. They prepare your body to enter into sleep faster. Honey, jam, spaghetti, pasta, chocolate, cakes, cereals and milk are all great sources of carbohydrates. But do remember to eat in moderation. For those who are more health conscious, peas and beans, vegetables and fruits are also good substitutes.

Herbs such as chamomile, mugwort, passion flower, valerian root, lemon balm, Siberian ginseng, spearmint, thyme and linden have been used as natural treatments for insomnia.

Cure your insomnia using effective natural treatments for insomnia revealed in my blog.

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Stopping insomnia

Don't Lose Sleep Over Insomnia, You're Not the Only One and there is a Better Way!

Do you know an estimated 30-50% of the general population is suffering from insomnia? Although insomnia is noticed in all age groups, older adults especially women are more prone for this condition.

Insomnia is not a disease, but it is a symptom. Difficulty in maintaining or initiating sleep or both is termed as insomnia. Most of us have experienced insomnia at least one time or another in our lifetime. Many of us don't know about the medical and behavioral options available to treat insomnia.

Causes of Insomnia

Causes of Insomnia include psychological problems and physiological conditions. The common psychological problems for insomnia are depression, stress, and anxiety, whereas physiological reasons vary from sleep-wake imbalance, circadian rhythm disorders, to a variety of medical situations.

A pineal gland secretion called melatonin found to be reduced, as you get older. The main function of the melatonin is to help your body regulate your sleep-wake cycles. Low melatonin level also may also lead to insomnia.

Symptoms of insomnia

People suffering from insomnia usually complain of difficulty falling asleep. Mental illness and depression are noticed in the individuals of insomnia. Other symptoms include irritability and impaired social interaction, impaired motor coordination, difficulty in memory, and poor focus and concentration.

Most of us don't know when to contact our physician for this condition. It is high time to get into your doctor's clinic if it interferes with your daytime activities such as impaired motor concentration or lasts longer than four weeks.

As we discussed earlier, Insomnia may be a symptom of another psychological or medical problem that requires immediate attention.

Diagnosis of Insomnia

Diagnosis is mainly based on your medical history. The physician will subject you to undergo different tests to rule out physiological illness.

The common tests used to diagnosis insomnia are overnight sleep test (Polysomnogram), a 2-week dairy of your sleep-wake periods, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Actigraphy.

Treatment of insomnia

If you're suffering from insomnia of medical illness, your treatment will be focused on your underlying condition.

Alternative therapy for insomnia includes limiting time in bed to regular sleep hours, controlling stimulation (evening exercise or caffeine ingestion), and using relaxation therapy.

For the treatment of insomnia medications directed toward a specific sleep-disrupting reason may also be taken into account. Even you can seek the medical advice for short-term use (2-3 weeks) of sleeping pills for chronic insomnia.

Although sedative-hypnotic drugs find no cure for insomnia, it relieves the symptoms of insomnia for short duration. There are certain drugs used for individuals who wake up after initially falling asleep.

Following your doctor's advice might help you to relieve from the symptom of insomnia as early as possible. Don't lose your hope if you have not achieved desired results from a single medication because you will have more than one option for treating this condition. You may be required to provide your doctor feedback after you have followed a treatment regimen.

Prevention

You can prevent the occurrence of insomnia by limiting the naps less than 15 minutes during day time, adopting relaxing activity such as reading or listening to soothing music, and avoiding large meals.

Reducing the use of stimulants including nicotine and caffeine, avoiding strenuous exercise before bedtime and excessive fluid intake.

Prognosis

Prognosis from insomnia solely depends on the type of insomnia you are suffering from. Your prognosis is grave if you are suffering from coexisting medical conditions of chronic pain syndromes and heart failure. Insomnia of jet lag will generally clear up within few days on its own.

Stopping insomnia

The Answer To What Is Insomnia And More

Ask anyone who spends countless nights tossing and turning with no sleep in sight the question "what is insomnia," and the answer is likely to be "a big pain in the neck." In reality, there are numerous answers to that question.

What is insomnia in its most basic form is the absence of sleep. When people find it impossible to get the rest and relaxation they need, the resulting condition is called insomnia. What is insomnia is also categorized by its persistent nature. A single sleepless night likely won't help a person fully understand what is insomnia, but three or four in a row might.

The answer to what is insomnia can be more detailed, as well. Depending on the cause, the answer to what is insomnia might vary greatly. For example:

· Stress. What is insomnia might be answered as being a response to stress. When the mind races and cannot seem to shut off even for rest, insomnia can result. Learning to tackle stress or at least deal with it can take the question of what is insomnia away entirely.

· Pain. Unfortunately for many people, the answer to the question of what is insomnia is often a response to pain. When pain and discomfort are present, sleeping can be hindered. Helping address the source of the pain can help. The best path to take when pain is the answer to what is insomnia will vary. Some people require medications; others might need therapy or pain management. Whatever the case, if pain is the cause, the answer to what is insomnia should be getting help if at all possible.

· Poor dietary habits. What is insomnia can often be answered with this: The body's response to poor dietary intake. When caffeine is high in a diet and poor eating habits are present, it is possible sleep patterns will be disrupted. To end this cause, many people need to alter their diets. What is insomnia might also be answered by a reaction to eating times. It is recommended that people not eat in the few hours prior to bedtime. This can help end insomnia for some.

· Response to medication. A poor response to medication is often the answer to what is insomnia. Some medications have insomnia as a side effect. If this is suspected, medical advice likely is needed. Medications might need to be switched or doses altered.

What is insomnia? The body's response to some sort out outer or inner stimuli that makes going to sleep difficult or impossible. Finding the cause can help take the problem away. Whether it is pain, stress, diet or medications, the real answer to what is insomnia should be: A condition that has gone away!

Stopping insomnia

What is Insomnia - What are the Types and Symptoms of Insomnia?

Why called Insomnia?

It actually takes its name from the Latin word, which literally means no sleep or the inability to sleep (In means no and somnus means sleep in Latin.

Who has Insomnia?

According to the National Institutes of Health, Insomnia affects more than 70 million Americans with Insomnia affect more women than men. Women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia than men and more likely to have insomnia during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause. In addition, insomnia tends to increase with age.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep and significant lack of high quality sleep. Insomnia is being the most well known type of sleep disorder people experiencing. It Insomnia may be caused by stress, change in usual sleep pattern or an underlying medical condition. It can be short term or long term. A sleeping pill can be effective for short term insomnia but not for long term insomnia.

For many of us, Insomnia happens once a while. However for some, it can be a chronic problem. Find out the types of Insomnia you have been experiencing and get the right treatments on it.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Insomnia is an experience of poor quality or inadequate sleep. The symptoms are one or more of the following sleep complaints:

Difficulty to fall asleep even you feel very tired

Difficulty to maintain sleep

Awaken frequently during night time

Awaken very early in morning

Waken up feel unfresh every having 8 hours sleep

Lack of energy in daytime

Trouble thinking clearly

Unable to stay focus

Short temper

Daytime drowsiness and fatigue

Take sleeping pills in order to fall asleep

Types of Insomnia

Acute or intermittent insomnia is short term insomnia which happens from time to time.

It is more likely occurs on and off due to lifestyles habits change, some short term stress or pressure, poor sleep pattern or medication. It is simple and easy to treat acute or intermittent insomnia, just by practicing better sleep habits or learning how to relief stress.

Chronic insomnia is long term insomnia which happen most nights a week over a month or even more.

It occurs due to anxiety, depress, chronic stress or chronic medical condition. In order to solve chronic insomnia, the underlying emotional or medical condition must be treated.

Primary or transient insomnia is insomnia lasts from a single night to a few weeks

It is more likely occurs by a poor sleep habits such as unhealthy lifestyle habits or not setting a sleep schedule.

It is simple and easy to treat primary or transient Insomnia, just by going back to normal healthy sleep habits.

Insomnia is a risk factor for the onset of depression which can significantly affect the quality of life. By not having getting enough good sleep, it can result in depression, psychological distress and being at risk for driving drowsy and injury.

Stopping insomnia

Name That Insomnia - The Types of Insomnia That Keep You From Sleeping

Find yourself watching the clock at 2 a.m., waiting for sleep to finally allow your body to rest? Before you can solve your sleep troubles, you need to pinpoint which of the many types of insomnia you suffer. From chronic insomnia to primary insomnia, this list will help you start down the road to a restful recovery.

I've-Been-Tired-for-Months Insomnia

If bags have taken up permanent residence under your eyes, you likely suffer from chronic insomnia. This sleep disorder is the inability to sleep for more than five or six hours a night for two or three days a week. Although the problem sometimes resolves itself for short periods, chronic insomnia often rears its ugly head regularly. In fact, if you've lived with this type of insomnia for months or years, you may even start to think that this pattern is normal-but it's not!

What's-Sleep? Insomnia

Known in medical circles as severe insomnia, sufferers typically don't get any sleep for more than three days each week. This is one of the serious types of insomnia and can be triggered by a number of causes, from bipolar disorder to breathing difficulty. Because severe insomnia can have a negative impact on the nervous and immune systems, a health professional that specializes in sleep disorders can provide the short-term relief you need to start getting this problem under control.

Life-is-Changing Insomnia

Life change is another sleep stealer, and it's one of the common types of insomnia found in women. From the excitement and anxiety of learning you're pregnant to the swelling and heartburn of the last trimester, insomnia is a common pregnancy complaint. Perimenopause and menopause are also life changes that might disturb sleep. In each of these situations, hormone shifts as well as physical and emotional changes can leave even the most pleasant woman feeling tired and cranky.

Middle-of-the-Night-Insomnia

You slip into bed after a long day and close your eyes for a good night's rest. Sleep comes, but soon the eyes crack open again. A glance at the alarm clock tells you it's only 3 a.m. Now you're awake, wide awake. My friend, you have what's known as middle insomnia. This is one of the more insidious types of insomnia because you fall asleep only to have it snatched away before you can get any benefit from it.

Awake-Before-the-Roosters Insomnia

Okay, so maybe you don't live close enough to a farm to actually hear the roosters call, but if you're awake well before the crack of dawn you likely suffer from terminal, or late, insomnia. Despite the ominous sounding name, this simply means you wake up too soon before the alarm sounds off.

I-Have-No-Idea-What's-Causing-My-Insomnia Insomnia

When your sleepless nights are not directly caused by a condition, such as sleep apnea, you have what medical professionals call primary insomnia. This can be one of the more frustrating types of insomnia to treat because there's no clear medical reason for it.

If you, with the help of a health care professional, have ruled out physical, mental, or environmental conditions, don't throw up your arms in frustration. It just means you might need to dig a little deeper to find your way to a good night's sleep.

It doesn't matter which of these types of insomnia you suffer from; you can find the help you need. Once you've identified the culprit, whether it's chronic insomnia, middle insomnia or a combination of types, there are methods available that will transform your sleepless nights into a restful dreamland.

Stopping insomnia

Dos and Don'ts For Insomnia Pregnancy Treatment

Pregnancy brings with it a host of minor symptoms and irritations that many women don't expect. One such thing that seems to go hand-in-hand with the condition is insomnia pregnancy troubles.

Insomnia pregnancy issues generally arise in the third trimester as the baby gets bigger and the burden on the woman's body is more pronounced. The truth is, however, that insomnia pregnancy troubles can arise at any time during gestation. Learning how to deal with insomnia pregnancy issues can help make a woman feel better and enable her to better endure the strains a growing life is putting on her.

To begin to tackle insomnia pregnancy problems, it is important for a woman to first realize where they are stemming from. The possibilities for insomnia pregnancy causes include:

· Normal baby growth. This is the number one cause for insomnia pregnancy issues. As the baby gets larger, it can start to push on all sorts of organs a woman might not have even realized were there. The discomfort and strain can make sleeping very difficult and might just be classified as full-blown insomnia pregnancy trouble.

· Stress. This is a factor in insomnia pregnancy troubles that should not be discounted. With so many changes on the way, insomnia pregnancy issues caused by stress alone are very common. From Day One, this insomnia pregnancy cause can show its head. When concerns about money, space in a home, the health of the baby, how siblings will respond and so on arise, they can make getting sleep impossible.

· Pain. If there are complications associated with the pregnancy, insomnia can result. Dealing with this might be a little trickier. Fortunately, it's not the most common cause of insomnia pregnancy issues.

If insomnia pregnancy problems do arise, there are some things a woman can do to help lessen the issue. There are things she should not do, too.

The best methods for handling insomnia pregnancy problems will depend on the causes. If the baby is the culprit, special pillows, sleeping sitting up or just walking around to try and adjust the little one a bit can help. Anything that provides comfort to the woman's body without hurting the baby tends to go here. Most women find they can battle insomnia pregnancy concerns by learning to take catnaps and adjusting their sleeping positions.

If stress is the blame for insomnia pregnancy concerns, dealing with it can help. Talk out the concerns and come up with a game plan. This can really help lessen insomnia pregnancy problems that stress produces.

When insomnia pregnancy issues are a real concern, the above methods are generally the best. It is imperative that women avoid taking sleeping aids or other medications that might impact the baby's health. There are better ways to tackle insomnia pregnancy concerns.

Stopping insomnia

Types of Insomnia and Its Causes and Symptoms

Insomnia is a condition characterized by severe sleep disorders within a human being. It is a chronic condition in which a person faces persistent difficulty falling asleep or has a problem staying asleep for a longer period of time. Insomnia can affect a person of any age and gender but it is generally common in women and aged people.

Types of Insomnia

Insomnia is further classified according to its cause and duration into the following types:

1. Primary Insomnia: This type of insomnia is caused due to stress or anxiety and is not related to any medical condition.

2. Secondary Insomnia: This type of insomnia is caused by some medical condition, such as depression, sleep apnea, etc.

3. Transient Insomnia: It is the type of insomnia in which the symptoms last from a few days to a few weeks.

4. Acute or Short Term Insomnia: In this type of insomnia the symptoms last for several weeks.

5. Chronic Insomnia: Insomnia is referred to as chronic when the symptoms last for several months or may be several years.

Causes of Insomnia

There are several factors contributing to the onset of Insomnia in a person: These factors include:

1. Lifestyle: The lifestyle of a person is a major contributing factor to the condition like Insomnia. People who are addict to smoking, drinking, awaking late in the nights are more prone to Insomnia. Apart from this, people working in the night shifts, people living in high altitudes, and people living in areas with frequent variation in temperature are also prone to Insomnia.

2. Medical Conditions: The people suffering from angina, acid reflux disease (GERD), asthma, arthritis, tumors, chronic fatigue syndrome, and hyperthyroidism are more prone to Insomnia. Apart from these, pregnant women, elderly people, and menopausal women are also more prone to Insomnia.

3. People consuming certain types of medicines or drugs, such as allergy medicines, heart and blood pressure medicines, weight loss medicines, etc are also more prone to Insomnia.

Symptoms of Insomnia

1. Difficulty falling asleep

2. Problem having a continuous sleep

3. Poor concentration and coordination

4. Depression

5. Headaches

6. Acid Reflux

7. Irritability

8. Feeling tired all the time

Risks associated to Insomnia

This condition can lead to poor immunity, depression, anxiety, obesity, and many other short and long term medical conditions in a person. The person with insomnia has an increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Along with this, people with this condition are more prone to accidents. However, the good news is that insomnia is a curable disease and can be easily cured by simple herbal remedies. Aaram capsule is one of the best known and safe herbal remedy for insomnia or sleeplessness.

Stopping insomnia

Chronic Insomnia - Do You Have the Symptoms, Do You Fit the Type, and Do You Have the Risk Factors?

This article informs the reader of the four main aspects of insomnia. The four aspects of insomnia are symptoms, types, causes, and risk factors. We will define insomnia and show you how it can affect a person's life. We will look at the three types of insomnia, the criteria for each, and the causes of insomnia. Finally, we will discover some of the risk factors, who are more at risk, examples, and reasons for insomnia. With knowledge, there is power and the more you know about insomnia the more you are able to understand and take appropriate action in order to get a good night sleep.

Insomnia is one of the most common medical complaints and is often why people seek professional help. Most adults have experienced insomnia at one point or another during their life and roughly 10% experience chronic insomnia. Insomnia affects any age group and tends to increase due to age. In the year 2007, approximately 64 million Americans suffered from insomnia on a regular basis according to the Department of Health and Human Services. They also state that insomnia is more prevalent in women by 41% over men. Insomnia is prevalent in our society and many people have first hand knowledge by experiencing it.

Insomnia has a specific definition, several characteristics, and can have a detrimental effect on you. It is a symptom of a condition characterized by difficulty falling and staying asleep and/or by the lack of non-restorative sleep so much that the lack of sleep begins to impair your ability to function during waking hours. Chronic insomnia is determined by the duration of the symptoms rather than by a certain number of hours of sleep you get a night because each person varies on their individual sleep needs. Non-restorative sleep means you usually feel like you did not have a good night sleep and you awake feeling tired. You can also wake up too early in the morning or wake up frequently, during the night, and then have difficulty going back to sleep. This lack of restful sleep can effect your energy level, your mood, and ultimately your health, which effects your quality of life. Insomnia is more easily defined and harder to see the long-term affects it may have on you

How much sleep do we need, what is restorative sleep and when do we know we have had enough sleep? As a rule, most adults generally require seven to eight hours of restorative sleep a night. Restorative sleep is being able to attain the level of sleep, such that, you reach Stage 4 (deep sleep) of the sleep cycle and Stage 5 (REM or rapid eye movement) of the sleep cycle. Restorative sleep means when you wake up you feel refreshed, awake, and ready for the day. It is then you can say you have had enough sleep. If you are not getting enough restorative sleep each night and you do not address your insomnia issues, it can lead to chronic insomnia. Although the amount of sleep required may vary from person to person, restorative sleep is the key and you are the one who can decide if you feel like you got a good nights sleep or not.

There are three types of insomnia and each has characteristics and causes. The three types of insomnia are transient, acute or short-term, and chronic or long-term. Transient insomnia lasts less than seven days and acute or short-term insomnia can last from one to three weeks. The causes of these two types of insomnia can be similar and can be as simple as you drank too much caffeine, ate too much food to late in the evening, or simply a change in your normal routine. An example of a change in routine can be switching shifts at work, taking a trip from one time zone to another, both of which disrupt your body's circadian rhythms. Sleeping in a place where there is too much noise, too much light or it is too hot or too cold can also keep you awake. Other examples for transient or acute insomnia might be a life stressor such as loss of or changing jobs, an acute illness, or having to move. Life stressors like fear and anxiety about something going on in your life-like an upcoming exam or an acute medical condition of your own or of a loved one, all of these can be the source of your insomnia. Some medications prescribed, or over the counter, can be a reason for acute insomnia and once discontinued the insomnia corrects itself. The third type of insomnia is chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia last for three weeks or more and can be a primary disorder or a secondary disorder. Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleeping problems but unrelated to a physical or mental condition. Secondary insomnia means there is another condition in which insomnia is a symptom of that condition. These disorders can be an underlying psychological or physiological disorder. These three types of insomnia are generally discernible with diverse origins.

There are various psychological and physiological reasons for having chronic insomnia and they can have significant effects on you. The effects of chronic insomnia can vary depending on what the cause of the chronic insomnia happens to be. The persons overall health, both physical and mental health, plays a role. The most common psychological reasons for insomnia are anxiety, stress, and depression and insomnia is an indicator of depression. These psychological reasons can affect you and those around you and professional help is often essential. Some of the physiological reason can vary from chronic pain, diabetes, GERD, sleep apnea and other reasons. Besides being unable to sleep, mental and physical tiredness occurs with overall decreased alertness. This decreased alertness is similar to the effects of someone who has been sleep deprived and studies have shown sleep deprivation puts themselves, as well as others, at risk. The effects of chronic insomnia, due to various psychological and physiological components, warrant your attention.

Several groups and situations increase the risk factor of developing chronic insomnia and one such group are the people ages 60 and up. Regardless of their age, this segment of the population requires the same amount of sleep as the rest of the population but, because of certain factors, common to this group, they often get less sleep. This age group generally has more medical issues then younger populations and these issues can create stress and anxiety. They can come in the form of aches and pains you feel during the day that transmit to your sleeping hours making it impossible to get a full, restful nights sleep. As a result, of medical conditions, this group may take one or more medications and these medications may have side effects that disturb sleep. This group may be more sedentary then they use to be and just are not sleepy at their usual bedtime. Drinking alcohol also contributes to lack of restful, restorative sleep. Lack of sleep at night can lead to excessive sleepiness during the day. Taking frequent naps during the day may mean less sleep at night. If you are not asleep long enough then it is more difficult to reach Stage 4 and Stage 5 during the nighttime hours. More illnesses and deaths of family or friends occur typically the older a person gets. Chronic insomnia can result from the stress of a long-term illness or death of someone close. Increasing awareness that people age 60 and up have a greater risk of developing chronic insomnia is informative and beneficial for ourselves and those around us.

Another such group that is at greater risk, for numerous reasons, of sleep disturbances leading to chronic insomnia is women. One reason, women are at greater risk of chronic insomnia is because of the flood of hormones she receives during her lifetime. Females have hormonal changes starting very early in their life. The influx of hormones begins with the premenstrual cycle prior to the onset of the menstrual cycle. Women, in their childbearing years also have hormonal changes that affect their sleep. A woman, once a child is born, often has a heightened awareness to the noise their child may make and can awaken easily. Although waking up easily is a learned behavior, some women are unable to unlearn that behavior even after the child is grown and out of the house. Later in life when a woman is going through menopause, she has hormonal changes with hot flashes and night sweats that can be a source of sleep disturbance. Once a woman's is through menopause, she can have decreased estrogen levels, which can contribute to a woman's lack of restorative sleep. Although insomnia does tend to be more prevalent in women, restorative sleep decreases equally in men and women as they age.

The final group, discussed in this article, that are at greater risk of developing chronic insomnia are people who suffer from mental disorders. This population is at risk of chronic insomnia by the mere fact they have a mental disorder. These mental disorders include (but not limited to) anxiety, depression, bi-polar and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Women, in this group, have two strikes against them, one for being a woman and the second for having a mental disorder. Insomnia is a known symptom for depression and since women are more prone to depression, they are more disposed to insomnia.

People who are under continual stress have an increased risk factors for developing chronic insomnia. There are different types of stress known as "good" stress and "bad" stress. The good stresses are short-term, and are not damaging to the immune system however, they can cause short-term or transient insomnia. The bad stress is the long-term stress, or chronic stress, which can damage the immune system and cause chronic insomnia. The bad stress is the topic of discussion here. The amount of continual stress in your life increases the risk factor for developing chronic insomnia. There are many reasons a person may feel stressed and each person responds different to the stresses in their life. What is stress to one person may not be stress to another person. Examples of stress that can lead to chronic insomnia can be your own illness or your loved ones illness or their death. Stress can come in the form of conflicts with someone at work or a fear of being laid off or fired from your job. If you have been laid off work or fired, you have the stress of worrying about how you will pay your bills or put food on the table. This stress can increase when you have more than yourself to feed. Conflicts at home, a separation, or a pending divorce are stressful situations that can cause chronic insomnia. You may feel overworked or feel pressured to perform at work or at home. The stresses of being in a lower economic class or being unemployed can also increase your risk factor for developing chronic insomnia. With the persisting current economic environment, it makes sense that chronic insomnia could increase right now. Stress and anxiety can affect every part of your being from your digestive system, to headaches, fighting off infections even your sex drive. Stress can make it harder to do the things you know would be beneficial to your health like quitting smoking or changing your diet. Constant stress has many negative health effects and chronic insomnia is one of them.

In conclusion, chronic insomnia is prevalent in today's society. Insomnia that lasts less than three weeks and rights itself within that period is generally of less concern. When insomnia lasts longer than three weeks this long-term chronic condition requires attention. Monitoring your sleep patterns, how much sleep you are getting and how you feel when you wake up in the morning is vital to your health. People age 60 and up, women, people with mental disorders and people under constant stress need to be vigilant in monitoring the amount of sleep they get. This group especially needs to attend to any psychological or physiological issues going on for them. Chronic insomnia is a symptom and those symptoms are a signal to you that you need to do something different because what you have been doing is not working. You can rid yourself of chronic insomnia, sleep restfully again, and wake refreshed ready for the day.

Stopping insomnia