Insomnia

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that includes having trouble falling or staying asleep. It’s due to a poor quality or quantity of sleep. More than one third of people experience insomnia at some point in their lives and more than 10 percent suffer from chronic or longstanding insomnia. People who suffer from insomnia typically awaken feeling tired and as a result can have a difficult time functioning in their everyday lives. It can make it challenging to concentrate during the day and make you feel irritable and depressed.

Insomnia can last days, weeks, months or even years. A doctor may classify insomnia by the duration of its symptoms or by its cause.

What causes or triggers insomnia?

Insomnia typically results from of a combination of factors that can vary from person to person. Some of the more common causes include:

• Stress, such as concern about work or family
• Depression, anxiety or other psychiatric conditions
• Drugs, including narcotics
• Certain medications
• Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
• Changes in your environment or regular schedule, perhaps resulting from travel or working different shifts
• Medical conditions such as chronic pain or breathing difficulties
• Poor sleep habits, such as watching television or working while in your bed, eating or exercising right before bed
• Environmental, such as too much light or noise
• Age, as insomnia tends to increase with age

Symptoms of Insomnia

The symptoms of insomnia vary from person to person, in how long they last, and how often they occur. Insomnia can be short-term or long-lasting. Symptoms can also come and go, with periods of time without any sleep problems. More common symptoms include:

• General tiredness, sleepiness during the day
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Physical and mental fatigue
• Changes in mood, irritability
• Poor concentration or memory
• Headaches or gastrointestinal problems
• Increased errors or mistakes

Insomnia Diagnosis and Treatment

In evaluating insomnia, your doctor may ask you about your medical, psychiatric and sleep history. A physical exam may be conducted to detect any underlying medical causes. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a couple of weeks to report how you slept and felt. In some cases, your doctor may also refer you to a sleep center for additional tests.

Insomnia treatment can vary depending on its cause. Treatment of mild insomnia may consist of some simple lifestyle changes or adjustments to your sleep routine. A healthy diet, regular exercise and a regular sleeping schedule are key to a good night’s rest.

Treating chronic insomnia may involve behavior therapy to teach good sleeping habits and/or medication may be recommended. Depending on your evaluation, your doctor may prescribe a sedative, hypnotic sleep medication, or an anti-depressant with some of the same effects. Some of the more commonly prescribed sleeping pills include zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata) or ramelteon (Rozerem).

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