Everything You Need to Know About Insomnia

Sleep disorders affect millions of people across North America, preventing them from attaining a restful night’s sleep. Getting a good night sleep is crucial to your overall health, and can reduce your risk of countless health problems and medical complications including obesity, heart attack, and depression.

One of the most common sleep disorders is one that many people might not even realize that they are affected by. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that can cause the sufferer to be unable to fall asleep or unable to stay asleep for long periods of time. Many people think that in order to be classified as having insomnia, they need to be unable to sleep for days on end but this is not the case.

There are many different types of insomnia, and the severity varies greatly. If you have a difficult time falling or staying asleep at night, it is likely that you suffer from one of the many different types of insomnia. If you are looking to solve this issue and finally get a long and restful sleep again, read on to find out everything you need to know about insomnia, from symptoms and causes to possible treatments.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Although the most common symptom of insomnia is having a difficult time or being unable to fall asleep, there are other symptoms that can indicate that you are suffering from some form of insomnia. These can include sleepiness during the day and general tiredness.

Extreme irritability can also be a sign that you are suffering from insomnia. Insomnia can also cause you to experience problems with memory and concentration. If you are experiencing a combination of any of these symptoms, it is definitely possible that you are suffering from some form of insomnia.

Types of Insomnia

The type of treatment that you seek for your insomnia is going to depend on the type of insomnia that you are suffering from. The 2 types of insomnia: primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia means that your condition is not related to any other medical conditions.

Secondary insomnia means that it is being caused by another medical condition such as depression, anxiety, or an injury that is causing you physical pain when you are trying to sleep. Insomnia is also classified based on how long it lasts. Acute insomnia is caused by a temporary issue and only lasts a week or two.

Once your insomnia lasts longer than that, whether it is being caused by a long term problem that you are dealing with or because of primary insomnia, it is classified as chronic insomnia.

Causes of Insomnia

There are numerous different factors that could be causing your insomnia. If you are suffering from acute insomnia, this means that your insomnia is likely being caused by a temporary factor in your life and when that factor has been resolved, your insomnia will be resolved with it.

These factors could be anything from significant life stress, emotional or physical discomfort. Environmental factors and jet lag are also common causes of acute insomnia. If you are suffering from chronic insomnia that means that it is likely being caused by more permanent factors in your life which can be harder to take care of. These factors can include depression, anxiety, and chronic stress.

How is Insomnia Diagnosed?

If you feel that you are suffering from chronic insomnia, you are probably wondering what you need to do in order to be diagnosed with it. To be diagnosed with insomnia, you need to visit your doctor. Your doctor will likely question you about your sleep history and general health history. You will probably need to go through a physical evaluation. In some more extreme cases, your doctor may refer you to a sleep testing center.

How to Choose the Right Treatment for Your Insomnia

Choosing a treatment for your insomnia is going to depend greatly on the type of insomnia that you are suffering from. One of the treatment options that people often consider using to treat insomnia is medicated sleeping pills. The problem with these pills is that your body can become reliant on them, and you may find that you need them to sleep and have a hard time weaning yourself off of them.

For less extreme cases of insomnia, a remedy that uses all natural ingredients might be a better solution so that you can use them when you need them without having the risk of being hooked to it. It also saves you from a trip to the doctor as it will be available over the counter.

One example of an over the counter sleep aid that uses all natural ingredients is Alteril. Alteril combines four of the most effective natural sleep aiding ingredients in the world to help you fall asleep and stay asleep so that you can wake up feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Useful References:

Mayo Clinic (Accessed 30 May 2013)