Sleep & Insomnia 

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition in which you have trouble falling or staying asleep. Some people with insomnia may fall asleep easily but wake up too soon. Other people may have the opposite problem, or they have trouble with both falling asleep and staying asleep. The end result is poor-quality sleep that doesn’t leave you feeling refreshed when you wake up.

Types of Insomnia

There are two types of insomnia. The most common type is called secondary insomnia. More than 8 out of 10 people with insomnia are believed to have secondary insomnia. Secondary means that the insomnia is a symptom or a side-effect of some other problem. Some of the problems that can cause secondary insomnia include:

• Certain illnesses, such as some heart and lung diseases
• Pain, anxiety, and depression
• Medicines that delay or disrupt sleep as a side-effect
• Caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and other substances that affect sleep
• Another sleep disorder, such as restless legs syndrome; a poor sleep environment; or a change in sleep routine

In contrast, primary insomnia is not a side-effect of medicines or another medical problem. It is its own disorder, and generally persists for least 1 month or longer.

Overview

Insomnia is a common health problem. It can cause excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of energy. Long-term insomnia can cause you to feel depressed or irritable; have trouble paying attention, learning, and remembering; and not do your best on the job or at school. Insomnia also can limit the energy you have to spend with friends or family.

Insomnia can be mild to severe depending on how often it occurs and for how long. Chronic insomnia means having symptoms at least 3 nights per week for more than a month. Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short-term or acute insomnia.

Outlook

Secondary insomnia often resolves or improves without treatment if you can eliminate its cause. This is especially true if the problem can be corrected soon after it starts. Better sleep habits and lifestyle changes often help relieve insomnia. You may need to see a doctor or sleep specialist to get the best relief for insomnia that is persistent or for which the cause of the sleep problem is unclear.

Insomnia can occur in people of all ages. Most individuals just experience a night or two of poor sleep, but sometimes the sleep disturbance can last for weeks, months, or even years. Insomnia is most common among women and older adults.

Transient Insomnia
Transient insomnia is the inability to sleep well over a period, lasting fewer than four weeks. This type of insomnia is usually brought on by excitement or stress. Children, for example, may toss and turn just before school starts in the fall, or before an important exam or sporting event. Adults might sleep poorly before an important business meeting or after an argument with a family member or close friend. People are more likely to have trouble sleeping when they are away from home, especially if they have traveled across time zones. Physical activity close to bedtime (within four hours) and illness can also cause this type of insomnia.

Short-term Insomnia
Short-term insomnia is the inability to sleep well for a period of four weeks to six months. Periods of ongoing stress at work or at home, medical conditions, psychiatric illness or other persistent factors can result in short-term insomnia. As the cause resolves or the sleeper adjusts to it, sleep will usually return to normal.

Chronic Insomnia
More than 20 million Americans complain of chronic insomnia, defined as poor sleep every night or most nights for more than six months. While most of these individuals worry about their sleep, it's wrong to blame all troubled sleep on worrying. Insomnia may also be due to a physical problem. According to a nationwide study by the Association of Sleep Disorders Centers, physical ailments - such as disorders of breathing or abnormal muscle activity - are often the cause of sleep disruption and may account for a large number of self-diagnosed cases of insomnia.