Insomnia, with its swaying and turning and nighttime disturbances, can wreak havoc on both your sleep schedule and how you feel the next day. This disorder prevents many people from getting the sleep they need to function properly. This disorder can lead to daytime fatigue and a decrease in concentration, focus, and cognitive performance. Understanding the symptoms and risk factors associated with insomnia will help you improve your sleeping habits. You can also learn when to seek professional assistance to treat this sleep disorder. Effective treatment for insomnia is available, no matter how long it has present.
Table of Contents
What is insomnia and what causes it?
Insomnia affects a person’s ability to fall or stay asleep. You might wake up early in the morning or have difficulty returning to sleep after waking during the night. About 40 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year, and more than 57% of older adults report a decline in their quality of life or overall health as a result. This sleep disorder, while common, is a condition that’s more complex than just an occasional night of insomnia. Repeated occurrences of sleeplessness can affect your energy, mood, productivity, and cognitive abilities.
Acute insomnia and chronic insomnia are the two types of insomnia. Acute insomnia can be short-lived and is often caused by stressful events. This type of insomnia usually resolves itself without medical treatment. Chronic insomnia is a more severe and long-term form of the disorder. It occurs at least three nights per week for a minimum of three months. Chronic insomnia may find relief through lifestyle changes, cognitive therapies, or medical interventions.
Risk Factors for Insomnia
Sleep disorders are not always caused by underlying or coexisting conditions. There are still certain factors that make it more likely for you to have recurring episodes. Stress can be caused by major life events, such as the death or divorce of a loved one, a job loss, illness, moving, starting a job, or changing jobs. Insomnia is more common in women than men due to hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
Other common risk factors for developing insomnia include:
- Chronic medical conditions, mental disorders, and allergies such as depression, anxiety, and thyroid problems
- Take certain medications.
- As you age, your sleep and health patterns will change.
- Work with irregular working hours, frequent traveling, or schedule changes.
- Sleeping environment and poor sleep habits
- Alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine abuse
Watch out for these symptoms:
Many people with insomnia complain that it affects their ability to function throughout the day. The symptoms of insomnia can vary depending on the person. They may include fatigue, anxiety, mood swings, and difficulties doing routine tasks. Here are some common signs you might have insomnia:
- Sleeping difficulties
- Getting up frequently or repeatedly during the night
- Wake up too early.
- Morning fatigue
- Depression, moodiness, or irritability
- Cognitive impairment
- Relationship problems
- Forgetfulness
- Accidents or errors are increasing.
- Anxiety about sleep
Talk to your doctor about insomnia treatment options if your symptoms persist or worsen.
Diagnosing Insomnia
There is no definitive test for diagnosing insomnia. However, your healthcare provider will use different methods to identify the causes and effects of your sleep problems, eliminate potential illnesses, and find the root cause. You may also undergo a physical exam or blood test to see if there are any other medical conditions, drugs, or other substances that could be contributing to your insomnia. Keep a sleep journal to track your symptoms and sleep patterns for a couple of weeks. Your doctor may suggest that you undergo additional testing to determine whether what seems to be insomnia is actually another sleep disorder.
How to treat insomnia
sheYou’re not the only one who has tried to soothe herself to sleep when you can’t. Some people use herbal tea, soft music, or reading or listening to a book to fall asleep. Alcohol is not a good way to self-medicate. It can disrupt sleep patterns and cause long-term effects.
You should talk to your doctor about the treatment options available if you haven’t been able to get relief from insomnia despite following a healthy sleeping routine like NSF’s Best Sleptself (r) Framework. It’s important to find an insomnia treatment you can stick with for both your physical and mental health. Untreated insomnia increases the risk of obesity, hypertension, and depression.
There is no one solution to treating insomnia. Others may need to take prescription medications in order to improve their quality of sleep. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia helps patients identify and eliminate negative beliefs and behaviors affecting their sleep. This treatment also focuses on developing good sleep habits and reducing excessive worrying, which keeps you awake at night.
The antihistamines doxylamine and diphenhydramine have sedating properties. Supplements like valerian and melatonin are also available.
Depending on the patient’s requirements, prescription sleeping pills can be used for a short or long time. There are several options, including:
- There are benzodiazepine sedatives as well as non-benzodiazepine sedatives. These help people fall asleep. Triazolam is a benzodiazepine. Other benzodiazepine-based sedatives include temazepam and flurazepam. Non-benzodiazepine sedatives include zolpidem, eszopiclone, and zaleplon.
- Orexin antagonists work by blocking the origin receptors in the brain. This helps you fall asleep. Suvorexant, lemborexant, and other origin antagonists are examples.
- Low-dose doxepin blocks histamine receptors. This medication is for people who are having trouble sleeping.
- Ramelteon, another insomnia drug, works by affecting the melatonin receptors. It was designed to help people sleep.
Some sleeping aids or medications may cause side effects such as dizziness during the day and grogginess. Talk to your doctor about the various options and any medications you may be taking before deciding on a treatment.
Summary: Choosing safe and effective treatments is key to managing insomnia. Begin with lifestyle changes such as setting a regular bedtime and reducing caffeine consumption later in the evening so that it does not interfere with your nighttime sleep. It may also be beneficial to create a relaxing, calm sleep environment. You can do this by eliminating distractions like TV and texting before bed. You may also want to discuss with your doctor the CBT-I or medication options. There are many ways to address insomnia. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, but you can take steps to alleviate it. You can find relief by working with your healthcare provider on a customized insomnia treatment plan.
