Insomnia Causes and Cures

The definition of insomnia, according to the American Sleep Disorders Association (ASDA), is difficulty falling asleep or remaining asleep. If it happens nightly or almost every night for a extensive period of time, it is known as chronic insomnia. According to ASDA figures, over thirty-five million Americans experience the chronic form of this condition. An additional twenty to thirty million other people experience shorter term insomnia. Males as well as females of every age suffer from insomnia. However it's more usual among seniors as well as females, particularly following menopause.

Similar to a headache or fever, sleeplessness could be a sign of an underlying issue. It could be a consequence of something as basic as expecting a nerve-wracking event, such as an exam or interview, or from a longer-lasting stressful situation, including a sick baby or problems in your marriage. Just the fact that you're worried about not being able to sleep could in itself keep an individual from nodding off at night.

Additional reasons for nighttime sleeplessness are environmental disruptions, including traffic sounds or noise from a television, a bedroom that's too hot or too cold, or the presence of sunlight or any other form of light. You can also include in this list the consumption of alcoholic beverages or stimulants like caffeine or nicotine; as well as fluctuating sleep patterns, such as those experienced by shift workers and people who travel across a number of time zones in a single trip.

Occasionally short-term sleep problems disappear on their own or by making a few changes in your daytime and bedtime routines. However, if your problem is ongoing, you need to consult a doctor. A physician can help you find a suitable treatment for your problem. Sometimes, if all natural treatments for insomnia have failed to work, you might need medication.

Something you should be aware of if you start using medication for insomnia is the drug's half life, or the amount of time it requires in order to be cleared from your system. Medications with shorter half-lives are less apt to have carry-over effects that impact daytime performance.

A second factor is the drug's toxicity. Because of a reduced danger of overdose, the latest benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-like pharmaceuticals are employed more frequently in order to manage sleep problems than barbiturates and other older pharmaceuticals. In general, these sleeping pills should be utilized exclusively for short periods of time because of the danger of becoming addicted and the possibility of withdrawal symptoms if these medications are discontinued. So, even though they might assist with short-term sleep problems brought on by jet lag, shift work, or temporary stress, they should typically not be utilized for chronic sleep problems because of their possible addictiveness and because they are able to mask underlying health issues.

A few other sleep aids are for sale without a prescription, such as diphenhydramine and doxylamine. These products contain a tranquilizing antihistamine and, similar to prescription medications, must be utilized with caution. Even when used at bedtime, they are able to create daytime sleepiness, which can make driving and other undertakings dangerous.