Insomnia
Affects one in three Americans
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. It is characterized by having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Not only are your sleeping hours disturbed, but your waking hours are disrupted by feeling sleepy during the day.
Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia is usually a symptom of another problem that is going on in your life. These problems could be:
- Illness
- Stress
- Depression
- Medication you may be taking
- Lifestyle choices, such as caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, shift work or inactivity
Health Risks of Insomnia
Insomnia is more than a minor inconvenience. Despite the perception that insomnia is not a serious problem, there is substantial evidence that untreated and persistent insomnia is associated with:
- Reduced quality of life
- Poor work performance
- Increased occurrence of accidents
- Risk for medical illness
- Risk for psychiatric illness
Types of Insomnia
Transient Insomnia
Transient insomnia is the inability to sleep restfully over a couple of nights. Usually stress or excitement brings on transient insomnia. Children may toss and turn the night before a big test. Adults may have difficulty sleeping after a stressful day at work or the night before leaving on a trip.
Short-term Insomnia
Short-term insomnia is when the restless nights continue for two-three weeks.
Chronic Insomnia
Chronic insomnia affects more than 35 million Americans. This is when
poor sleep happens every night, or at least on most nights. In almost half of the cases of insomnia, a physical ailment is to blame.
Insomnia Treatment
Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia is a treatment solution that research shows is as or more effective than sleeping pills, without the potential side effects.
About Sleeping Pills
We do not advocate the persistent use of sleeping pills. In some cases of short-term insomnia when the cause is a traumatic event such as a death in the family or a divorce, sleeping pills may be warranted. If sleeping pills need to be taken for more than two-three weeks, then the cause of your insomnia should be fully investigated.
