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Insomnia General Introduction

Written by Administrator

Friday, 07 December 2007

Insomnia a general introduction. Includes causes, treatment, and diagnosis of sleeping problems caused by insomnia.

Insomnia General Introduction

Difficulty of falling asleep or staying asleep or a disturbance in sleep that makes individuals feel as if they have had insufficient sleep when they awaken, characterize insomnia.

Don't be fooled though, insomnia is not a disease; it is merely a symptom that has many different causes which include both emotional and physical disorders and medication use.

Having problems falling asleep is common in both the young and old. It is often correlated with emotional disturbances such as anxiety, nervousness, depression, or fear. Sometimes, people find it difficult to fall asleep because their body and brain are not tired.

Sleeping less is usually common among people as they age. Sleep stages also change with age. Stage 4 sleep becomes shorter and eventually disappears, and more awakenings occur during all stages. These stages although normal, tend to make older people feel they are not getting enough sleep. However there is no proof that healthy older people need as much sleep as younger or that they need sleep medications to remedy these normal, age-related changes.

An early morning awakening pattern is common among the elderly. Some people fall asleep normally but wake up several hours later and are unable to fall asleep again easily. Sometimes they drift in and out of a restless, unsatisfactory sleep. Early morning awakening at any age may be a sign of depression.

People whose sleep patterns have been disrupted may experience sleep rhythm reversal. They fall asleep in inappropriate times and then can't sleep when they should. These reversals often happen as a result of jet lag (especially when traveling from east to west), working irregular night shifts, and frequent changes in work hours, or excessive alcohol use. Sometimes they are a side effect of medication. Damage to the brain's built in clock (caused by encephalitis, stroke, or Alzheimer's disease) can also disrupt sleep patterns

Diagnosis of Insomnia

Insomnia is diagnosed by a doctor that evaluates an individual's sleep pattern; use of medication, alcohol, and elicit drugs; degree of psychological stress; medical history; and level of physical activity.

Some people need less sleep than others, so the diagnosis of insomnia is based on a person's individual needs. Doctors may classify insomnia as primary insomnia, a long-standing condition with little or no apparent relationship to any stress or life event, or secondary insomnia, a condition caused by pain, anxiety, medication, depression, or extreme stress.

Treatment of Insomnia

The treatment of insomnia depends on its cause and severity. Older people experiencing age-related sleep changes usually don't need treatment because the changes are normal. Since total sleeping time is likely to decrease with age, older people may find going to bed later or getting up earlier helpful.

People with insomnia may benefit by staying calm and relaxed in the hour before bedtime and making the bedroom atmosphere more conducive to sleep. Soft lighting, minimal noise, and a comfortable room temperature are necessary.

If emotional stress is causing the insomnia, treatment to relieve the stress is more useful than taking sleep medication.

When insomnia occurs with depression, the depression should be thoroughly evaluated and treated by a doctor. Some antidepressant drugs can improve sleep because they have sedating properties.

When sleep disorders interfere with a person's normal activities and sense of well-being, the intermittent use of sleep medications (sedatives, hypnotics) may be helpful.