It is not unusual to have trouble sleeping from time to time. But if you feel that you do not get enough sleep (or enough satisfying sleep), you could possibly have a sleep disorder called insomnia. People with insomnia have one or more of the following:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Non-refreshing sleep.
About 60 million Americans each year suffer from insomnia, which can lead to serious sleep deficits and problems. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.
Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. The amount of sleep a person needs varies. While most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night, some people do well with less, and some need more.
Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as:
- Tiredness
- Lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability.
A person with insomnia may also have another sleep disorder, such as:
There are several
types of insomnia. The types of insomnia can be based on the causes of insomnia, as well as how long it lasts.
Common types of insomnia that are based on cause include:
- Primary insomnia
- Secondary insomnia.
Types of insomnia that are based on how long it lasts and how often it occurs include:
There are many
insomnia causes. Some causes of insomnia are more likely to result in short-term insomnia, while others are more likely to cause chronic insomnia.
Short-term insomnia generally occurs in people who are temporarily experiencing one or more of the following:
- Stress
- Environmental noise
- Extreme temperatures
- Change in the surrounding environment
- Sleep/wake schedule problems, such as those due to jet lag
- Side effects of medication, particularly the medications that treat colds and allergies, heart disease, blood pressure, and pain.
Chronic insomnia is more complex and often results from a combination of factors, including underlying physical or mental disorders. One of the most common causes of chronic insomnia is
depression.
Other medical conditions than can cause insomnia include:
Chronic insomnia may also be due to behavioral factors, including:
- Drinking alcohol before bedtime
- Ingesting excessive amounts of caffeine
- Excessive napping in the afternoon or evening
- Chronic stress
- Expecting to have difficulty sleeping and worrying about it
- Smoking cigarettes before bedtime
- Irregular or continually disrupted sleep/wake schedules, as may occur with shift work.
In 20 percent of chronic insomnia cases, the cause of insomnia is unknown. This is known as primary insomnia.
In order to help diagnose insomnia, the doctor will ask a number of questions (medical history), perform a physical exam, and may ask you to fill out a sleep diary. The doctor may also want to talk to your bed partner.
There are several
insomnia treatment options. The treatment the doctor recommends will depend on:
Specific insomnia treatments include:
- Doing nothing
- Treating the underlying problem
- Taking medications
- Using certain behavioral techniques.
Insomnia and Good Sleep Habits
In many cases, mild insomnia can be prevented or cured by practicing
good sleep habits.
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