Overview of Insomnia: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Are you sleepy during the day? Are you generally tired and irritable? Do you have problems concentrating or remembering? If you answered yes then you may be suffering from insomnia. Insomnia is defined as having difficulty falling and/or staying asleep at night. Insomnia sufferers may have difficulty falling asleep at night, waking up in the night and having trouble going back to sleep, waking up too early, and feel tired when waking up. If this describes you then read on for some more information and treatment.

There are two types of insomnia. Primary insomnia is when someone has difficulty sleeping and it is not directly caused by some other factor. Secondary insomnia is characterized as when the insomnia is caused because of something else.

Insomnia is then characterized by the length of the insomnia. Acute insomnia is insomnia that lasts for a very short while. It may be due to an illness, environmental factors, emotional or physical discomfort, medications, life stress, and interference with a normal sleep schedule. Acute insomnia can last from one night to several weeks. Chronic insomnia is characterized as happening three or more times a week for a month or more. Chronic insomnia is usually caused by depression, anxiety, stress, or pain that cannot be alleviated. Whether the insomnia is acute or chronic, it is a good idea to visit your health care provider to be evaluated.

You can expect your doctor to want a complete medical history including emotion history when he evaluates you. He may also want a sleep journal chronicling a couple weeks worth of sleep. He may even send you for a sleep study. Once the insomnia diagnosis is given, there are several ways to treat it.

Treating insomnia can be as simple as treating the underlying problem. If it is caused by depression, then antidepressants may stop the insomnia. If it is caused my chronic pain, then seeing treatment for the pain should alleviate the insomnia. If necessary, the doctor can prescribe sleeping pills. These cannot be used long-term so it is important to discover the reason behind the insomnia and be treated for it.

Trying to get a good night sleep can be easier than it sounds. Start by going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time every morning. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, heavy meals, and exercise too close to bedtime. While avoiding it close to bedtime is a good idea, exercising daily will also help promote a good nights sleep. Try a relaxing routine prior to bed. Perhaps this could involve a bath and a book. Try to keep it quiet just before bedtime. This means don't use the computer or watch television right before bed. It is suggested that no television or computer for one hour prior to bedtime. Make sure that your bed is comfortable. Keep the room slightly cool since it is proven to provide a better sleeping environment. Don't keep it so cool that you become cold. Take care of other distractions such as noise or light. Hopefully, by changing your routine, the insomnia will go away.

Insomnia can be a serious problem. When we don't get enough sleep, our judgment as well as vision can be impaired. Being very tired has been compared to being drunk. Let's hope you wouldn't drive drunk, but you may not think twice about driving when you are too tired. If the symptoms of insomnia sound all too familiar, then see your health care provider for treatment.