INSOMNIA

Insomnia is also referred as sleeping problem and the patients suffering from the disease complain about inadequate sleep. It is a very common disorder from which most of the people suffer especially old age people. In this disease the patients cannot unable to sleep for hours that is required by the body of human being. However, it is no where specified clearly how much hours sleep required by different bodies. The major cause of the disease can be varied like stress, worries, work pressure, money problem, separation from beloved ones, break ups in love, shift jobs, unhealthy and polluted surrounding, divorce, excess of alcohol consumption, and several other reasons.

Insomnia has three forms such as transient insomnia, short-term insomnia, and chronic insomnia. The people suffering from transient insomnia may take inadequate sleep for less than a week period. It is very common form of insomnia and often people recover from it without medication. The later stage of insomnia where people lack sufficient sleep for more than a week but the period is less than three weeks. The person at this stage of insomnia needs to consult doctor. The major cause of insomnia at these two stages is stress, separation, and other short term reasons, which last for few weeks. The most serious stage is chronic insomnia. In this stage the patient lack sufficient sleep for more than three weeks and it can last for any period of time if the patient is not consulting any doctor. The major cause for such type of insomnia is depression, access alcohol consumption, and other reasons.

Taking sleeping pills is the not a cure for chronic insomnia as it form habit and you depend on such pills for sleeping. Vira’s Homeopathy Clinic is providing permanent cure of chronic insomnia, which complete safe and reliable for patients of any age group.

Although most of us know what insomnia is and how we feel and perform after one or more sleepless nights, few seek medical advice. Many people remain unaware of the behavioral and medical options available to treat insomnia.

Insomnia is generally classified based on the duration of the problem. Not everyone agrees on one definition, but generally:

  • Symptoms lasting less than one week are classified as transient insomnia

  • Symptoms between one to three weeks are classified as short-term insomnia

  • Those longer than three weeks are classified as chronic insomnia.

Insomnia affects all age groups. Among adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence tends to increase with age. It is typically more common in people in lower socioeconomic (income) groups, chronic alcoholics, and mental health patients. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia. If you do not address your insomnia, however, it may develop into chronic insomnia.

Insomnia may be caused by a host of different reasons. These causes may be divided into situational factors, medical or psychiatric conditions, or primary sleep problems. Insomnia could also be classified by the duration of the symptoms into transient, short-term, or chronic. Transient insomnia generally last less than seven days; short-term insomnia usually lasts for about one to three weeks, and chronic insomnia lasts for more than three weeks.

Many of the causes of transient and short-term insomnia are similar and they include:

  • Jet lag
  • Changes in shift work
  • Excessive or unpleasant noise
  • Uncomfortable room temperature (too hot or too cold)
  • Stressful situations in life (exam preparation,loss of a loved one, unemployment, divorce, or separation)
  • Presence of an acute medical or surgical illness or hospitalization
  • Withdrawal from drug, alcohol, sedative, or stimulant medications
  • Insomnia related to high altitude (mountains)

The majority of causes of chronic or long-term insomnia are usually linked to an underlying psychiatric or physiologic (medical) condition.

Psychological related insomnia

The most common psychological problems that may lead to insomnia include:

  • anxiety,
  • stress,
  • schizophrenia,
  • mania (bipolar disorder), and
  • depression.

In fact, insomnia may be an indicator of depression. Many people will have insomnia during the acute phases of a mental illness.

Physiological related insomnia

Physiological causes span from circadian rhythm disorders (disturbance of the biological clock), sleep-wake imbalance, to a variety of medical conditions. The following are the most common medical conditions that trigger insomnia:

  • Chronic pain syndromes
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Night timeangina (chest pain) from heart disease
  • Acid reflux disease (GERD)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Nocturnalasthma (asthma with night time breathing symptoms)
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Degenerative diseases, such asParkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease (Often insomnia is the deciding factor for nursing home placement.)
  • Brain tumors,strokes, or trauma to the brain

In addition to the above medical conditions, certain groups may be at higher risk for developing insomnia:

  • travelers
  • shift workers with frequent changing of shifts
  • seniors
  • adolescent or young adult students
  • pregnant women, and
  • menopausal women

Certain medications have also been associated with insomnia. Among them are:

  • Certain over-the-counter cold and asthma preparations.
  • The prescription varieties of these medications may also contain stimulants and thus produce similar effects on sleep.
  • Certain medications forhigh blood pressure have also been associated with poor sleep.
  • Some medications used to treat depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
  • Common stimulants associated with poor sleep include caffeine andnicotine. You should consider not only restricting caffeine and nicotine use in the hours immediately before bedtime but also limiting your total daily intake.
  • People often use alcohol to help induce sleep, as a nightcap. However, it is a poor choice. Alcohol is associated with sleep disruption and creates a sense of nonrefreshed sleep in the morning.
  • A disruptive bed partner with loudsnoring or periodic leg movements also may impair your ability to get a good night’s sleep.
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