Insomnia (Sleep disorder)

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. If you have it, you have trouble falling asleep, falling asleep, or both. As a result you will sleep little or have a poor quality sleep. You may not feel rested when you wake up.

Symptoms of insomnia include:

• Staying awake for a long time before falling asleep
• Sleep only for short periods
• Being awake for much of the night
• Feel like you have not slept at all
• Wake up too early.

Types of insomnia.
Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Acute insomnia is common. The most frequent causes include stress at work, family pressures or a traumatic event. It usually lasts for days or weeks.

Chronic insomnia lasts a month or more. Most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary. This means that they are the symptom or the side effect of some other problem, such as certain medical problems, medications and other sleep disorders. Substances such as caffeine, tobacco and alcohol can also be a cause.

Sometimes, the main problem is chronic insomnia. This means that it has no other cause. Its origin is not well understood, but long-term stress, emotional distress, travel and shift work can be factors. In general, primary insomnia lasts more than a month.

Insomnia is common. It affects more often than men. You can have it at any age, but it is more common in older adults. You also have an increased risk of insomnia if:

• He has a lot of stress.
  . Are depressed or have other emotional problems, such as divorce or the death of a spouse.
• Have money problems.
• Work at night or frequent changes in your work schedule.
• Travel long distances with change of hours.
• Have a sedentary lifestyle.
• African-American: Research shows that African-Americans take longer to fall asleep, do not sleep well, and have more sleep-related breathing problems than whites.

Other problems can cause insomnia?
Insomnia can cause daytime drowsiness and lack of energy. It can also make you feel anxious, depressed or irritable. You may have trouble concentrating on tasks, paying attention, learning and remembering. Insomnia can also cause other serious problems. For example, it can make you feel sleepy while driving, which could cause a car accident.

Insomnia is diagnosed.
To diagnose insomnia, your health care provider will consider:

Your medical history
Your dream history Your provider will ask for details about your sleeping habits
A physical exam to rule out other medical problems that can cause insomnia
You can recommend a sleep study. A sleep study measures how well you sleep and how your body responds to sleep problems

Treatments for insomnia.
Treatments include changes in lifestyle, therapy and medications:

Changes in lifestyle, including good sleep habits, often help to alleviate acute (short-term) insomnia. These changes can make it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep
A type of therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, can help relieve anxiety related to chronic insomnia
Several medications can also help relieve insomnia and allow you to restore a regular sleep schedule. First consult your doctor.

If your insomnia is the symptom or side effect of another problem, it is important to treat it, if possible.