November 28, 2008

How Too Tell If Your Sleep Problem Is Insomnia

About 35% of adults claim that they have some form of insomnia occasionally and about 12% of these people claim to have severe insomnia. Insomnia complaints often increase with age and are more common in women.

Insomnia is not considered a disease but it is a condition of lack of correct, satisfying sleep. Someone with insomnia will generally have the sensation of daytime fatigue and impaired potential performance. Insomnia relates to the inability to sleep even though one is tired and can include waking up too early and having too fitful of a sleep leaving one tired upon waking. Insomnia can result in irritability, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and tiredness.

There are two generally recognized types of insomnia, acute and chronic. Both acute and chronic insomnia have many shared characteristics and a combination of symptoms may blur the actual lines.

Acute insomnia is often caused by physical or emotional discomforts that can usually be corrected fairly easily. Acute insomnia may be caused by stress, illness or disturbing loud noise, temperatures too high or low, or unacceptable light levels. Additionally, acute insomnia may be caused by jet lag or disturbances of the daily biological rhythm, such as the night shift.

Chronic insomnia is the more difficult insomnia to deal with and often is associated with many different factors either acting alone or in combination and often includes medical problems.

Chronic insomnia is often associated with medical, neurological and or psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders accounts for about 45% of the cases. Chronic insomnia can be associated with a variety of nonprescription drugs, prescription drugs and drugs of abuse.

There are many causes of insomnia and often an insomniac has more then one cause to blame for this condition. One of the main causes of insomnia are drugs. Some of the drugs associated with insomnia include stimulating antidepressants, steroids, decongestants, beta blockers, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and recreational drugs.

Anxiety and mood disorders can be the cause of insomnia, as well as medical problems such as pain, immobility, menopause, hormonal changes, and difficulty breathing.

Insomnia can be associated with specific sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, sleep apnea and circadian rhythm sleep problems. Additional causes of insomnia include poor sleep hygiene, poor sleep surfaces such as bad mattresses, hyper arousal, and behavioral conditioning.

Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS is a condition where the sufferer feels unpleasant sensations in the legs which are temporarily alleviated by moving around. Symptoms are increased during relaxed times and sleeping times. This makes it difficult to fall asleep.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder describes jerking, rhythmic, repeated movements in the legs and lower extremities every 15 to 90 seconds. Sufferers who have this problem report having less refreshing sleep.

Sleep Apnea which is associated with snoring can cause sleeplessness and insomnia.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders refer to a mis- match between when a person can sleep and when his body needs and wants to sleep.

Other causes of insomnia include poor sleep hygiene, stress, hyper arousal and negative behavioral conditioning.

Often acute insomnia (insomnia that lasts less than several weeks) may warrant some kind of medical intervention if you can not correct the problem yourself. This is important because good sleepers that suffer just a few hours of sleeplessness may become significantly sleepy during the day and be a danger to him self and others, especially during driving or operating equipment. There is also the danger that acute insomnia may develop into a learned chronic insomnia.

There are two basic approaches to the treatment of insomnia. Basically one approach is to use drugs and the other approach is behavioral.

Behavioral treatment includes correcting poor sleep habits and changing sleep beliefs and attitudes. Several of the therapies include relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, stimulus control therapy, and cognitive therapy.

Pharmacological therapy includes hypnotic medications, antidepressants, antihistamines, melatonin, and other drugs like barbiturates.

In conclusion, there are effective solutions to insomnia and sleep deprivation. The patient can do much to help themselves in this matter and the physician has many tools to aid in this. Improved sleep will help in your quality of life, and health both mental and physical.

Filed under Sleep Aid by admin

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Comments on How Too Tell If Your Sleep Problem Is Insomnia

November 28, 2008

Ton O @ 2:36 pm

I always had a problem with staying asleep could someone tell me why?
Since I was a child I always had a problem staying alseep. For instance if I go to sleep at 11:00 p.m I had a habit of waking up at 1:00 a.m then later 3:00 a.m then I might wake up again at 5:00. I can never seem to stay alseep for the 8-9 hours that I'm alseep. I not under stress nor I don't think I have insomnia. I'm 21 year old and this problem been with me since I was 5. At times I feel tried all day and even if I sleep until the afternoon I feel tried. Could someone tell me why I have this problem and tell me how to fix my sleep problem.

strawberry_shortcake @ 7:38 pm

I've seen commercials of tossing and turning in ur sleep and how people wake up a million times. Go see someone about the problem.
References :

Jamie g @ 7:40 pm

I also have a problem staying asleep. Its a form of insomnia. I was on sleeping pills prescribed by my doctor and started sleeping all night. But, I wasn't comfortable taking those kinds of pills so I stopped. After a couple weeks, I started taking Advil PM, it works great and no "hang over" the next day.

P.S. My doctor is fine with me taking Advil instead of Elavil, Restoril and Flexeril (which is what he had me on.) I also have emphysema and get body cramps, hence the Flexeril.
References :

Emily J @ 7:42 pm

Hello… do you think about stuff alot before you go to sleep? I do and I used to have a terrible time sleeping. You really should go to the doctor and request Lunesta. It is a non-habit forming sleep aid, and it works for me.

Hope this helps… nite nite

P.S. Advil contains naproxen and too much will cause serious problems. This should not be taken daily.
References :

WhizKid @ 7:44 pm

If you go right back to sleep after you wake up, it is not a problem. Feeling tired could be a nutrition problem. See site below for possible help.

http://www.phifoundation.org/cure.html
References :

transplant mom @ 7:46 pm

The most common cause of frequent waking is sleep apnea.

This is a medical condition where you stop breathing in your sleep. Then your body kind of wakes itself up to get you to start breathing again.

Do you snore? People with obstructive sleep apnea usually do.

Talk with your doctor. Sometimes sleep apnea can be corrected simply — like with removal of your tonsils or adenoids.
Otherwise, there are breathing mask type devices, called BiPap, that will help.
References :

LadyLynn @ 7:48 pm

They have just come out with the new medication for you, and it's not habit-forming! You want Ambien CR. It helps you get to sleep and STAY asleep. Get to your doctor for a presciption. Tell him exactly what you told me, and you should have no problem whatsoever!! Good luck! In the meantime try warm milk when you can't get back to sleep.
References :
Nurse.

xo_j @ 7:50 pm

There are many different stages of sleep and it seems that you are not hitting the deepest stages of sleep which help you rest up the most. It seems that you are unable to reach Stage 4 (the deepest sleep) for what could be many reasons.

- avoid ingesting ANY caffeine after 3:00pm (including Coke, Pepsi, coffee, tea, iced tea)
- avoid stimulating activities before bedtime, including reading very interesting, scary, steamy books or stories. Avoid playing video games, talking to friends/family, watching television (unless you are watching something very boring).
- avoid exercise in the evening as this is mentally stimulating and makes you more alert and awake because you have increased blood flow around your body
- do not make your bed your work/play/miscellaneous area! Avoid doing homework, projects, work, laptops, novels etc on your bed. Use your bed only for sleep; this helps your mind associate your bed with sleep and makes it less difficult for you to fall asleep.

That is all I can think of for now, but I believe the less stimulating activities you partake in, the deeper the sleep you will reach and ultimately sleep through the entire night. Good luck to you!
References :
RN student

cruzanmoon @ 7:52 pm

usually when one cannot sleep for the recommended amount of time it is because the events of the day are running through your mind or something is bothering you. If neither are these are the reason, may i recommend medical help. good luck!
References :

info @ 7:54 pm

Insomnia (sleeplessness) is due to stress,
dietary and medical problems. By making
small lifestyle changes like having a fixed
daily routine, relaxing and eating properly,
insomnia can be cured. I found the information
at http://www.nosleep.in/insomniacause.html
References :

November 28, 2008

How Too Tell If Your Sleep Problem Is Insomnia

Comments on How Too Tell If Your Sleep Problem Is Insomnia

Ton O @ 2:36 pm

strawberry_shortcake @ 7:38 pm

Jamie g @ 7:40 pm

Emily J @ 7:42 pm

WhizKid @ 7:44 pm

transplant mom @ 7:46 pm

LadyLynn @ 7:48 pm

xo_j @ 7:50 pm

cruzanmoon @ 7:52 pm

info @ 7:54 pm

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