What is Insomnia?

Any person who tumbles and turns at night no matter how he tries to get some sleep will surely be grumpy, unfocused and disorderly the next morning. Poor sleeping habits can lead to mood swings, fatigue and a diminished attention span.

People who regularly have a hard time getting some sleep no matter what they do have a sleeping illness called insomnia. People who have insomnia may feel tired even as they wake up in the morning and have trouble concentrating on tasks.

Thirty percent of a person's life is spent sleeping. Sleep has become a regular part of a person's being that he tends to take sleep for granted. A person will only realize the value of a good sleep when he is already suffering from a malady called insomnia.

A good sleeping habit is important because it enables a person's brain and body to function normally. Lack of proper sleep can thus create abnormalities in how a person functions. People generally require sleep during mid day and during night time.

Random Sleeping Tip

Every person has a very different sleep pattern, there are people who are very sensitive to sound while they are sleeping. If you have a partner who has a snoring problem that can really affect your sleeping pattern. It is important that you get your partner checked out for the snoring problem so that this issue resolves, but if this cannot be resolved on an urgent basis, then you must switch the room so that your sleep is not disturbed and you wake up fresh during morning.

Each person requires a different length of sleep to continue their normal functions the next day. However, most people may require at least seven hours of sleep every night. There are people who can still function normally the next day even if they normally only get four hours of sleep.

A person's body automatically recognizes the time to sleep because it considers lesser amounts of light as a signal to the brain to produce melatonin, a chemical that causes sleepiness. During this time, the three major chemicals that keeps the body alert, including serotonin is automatically deactivated. Insomnia is generally known as a sleeping disorder but it can be grouped into three types. Mild insomnia is a sleep disorder that lasts for a few days only and does not result in any defect in a person's regular functions. The more severe type or short term insomnia can last for weeks and can result in feelings of fatigue and irritability. Chronic insomnia can last for months and can severely affect a person's normal functions.

The mild form of insomnia may be normal and not debilitating. However, longer periods of insomnia can have serious effects on a person's physical and psychological make up.

Insomnia can result in poor concentration and focus and can make a person more prone to accidents. This sleep disorder can also result in a poor social life and failed relationships because insomniacs are easily stressed out, generally depressed and have little patience. Sleep disorders can also result in heart illnesses and sever headaches during the day.

When should you ask for help for if you have insomnia?

Moderate insomnia may just be a result of too much thinking or pressure in your work or personal life. However, when your insomnia attacks become longer and affect your normal functions to the point of keeping you depressed and irritable then perhaps it is time to seek help from a professional.

Most insomniacs do not seek the advice of specialists even if they have already lost remarkable weight and are losing control of their lives because they think it is normal phase. However, insomnia is different from sleep deficiency, a condition where a person can get some sleep but feels he does not get enough of it.

Insomnia is a common occurrence with almost thirty percent of adults experiencing insomnia every year. However, only five percent of these people get medical advice. This is a sad fact considering that four out of ten people who have insomnia are also prone to psychiatric disorders. Another glaring fact is that seven out of ten depressed people have insomnia.

Research shows that while insomnia is generally caused by pressure and anxiety, it may also be caused by increasing use of cocaine, alcohol and sedatives. Normal problems like unemployment, relationship problems, and other daily activities are also said to cause insomnia.

1. Sleep Apnea- Article List
Sleep Apnea- Article List General Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder wherein due to restrictions in the airways breathing problems occur while sleeping. This either causes [...]

2. Hypersomnia: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Hypersomnia: Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment Diagnosis A person is considered to have hypersomnia if they sleep more than 10 hours per day [...]

3. Snoring Prevention
Snoring Prevention: Answerable, but still unanswered! Snoring prevention is kind of maintaining diet and it will not work out for everyone. If [...]

4. Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Taking a detailed history is vital to the diagnosis of GERD Useful investigations may include: Barium Swallow [...]

Sleeping Basics Types of Sleeping Disorders Snoring Sleeping Problems More Articles on Sleeping

About Us | Contact Us | Link to Us