Insomnia Causes and Cures

Millions of people around the world are affected by insomnia, but unfortunately they are not aware of the fact that they are suffering from some illness. Although it is not very fatal, the mental condition associated with it can make your life quite difficult at times.

What is Insomnia?

Also referred to as sleeplessness, insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by lack of sleep, general tiredness, irritability, and lack of concentration. A person suffering from it may find it difficult to sleep or may wake up frequently at night. Basically, this disorder is divided into two types:

• Primary insomnia (Not directly associated with any underlying health condition.)
• Secondary insomnia (Associated with some health condition, medication or substance abuse.)

Similarly, on the basis of its duration, it is divided into two types:

• Acute insomnia
• Chronic insomnia

Causes

There are several causes of insomnia, the most prominent ones being medications, stress, abnormal sleep schedule, various ailments, and anxiety. Acute insomnia can be caused by a stressful lifestyle on the personal or professional front. Emotional or physical discomfort is also a common reason for sleep deprivation. Certain medical conditions, and the pain associated with them, are also known to cause sleeplessness. At times, the drugs and medications prescribed for various ailments can also cause insomnia. For some people, especially in the case kids and the elderly, environmental factors, such as extreme weather conditions, or loud noise, are known to interfere with sleep. In babies, it can also be attributed to teething, rashes, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

For people working in shifts, disturbance of normal sleep schedule is the main reason for sleeplessness. Chronic insomnia can be caused due to depression, anxiety, as well as chronic stress. A person suffering from a long term illness may also suffer from this sleep disorder, owing to the pain or discomfort associated with the ailment he is suffering from.

Cures

Insomnia treatment can be initiated as soon as the disorder is detected in the individual. Insomnia diagnosis includes a physical examination and evaluation of medical history. Tracking the sleeping patterns and sleep history of the individual can determine weather the person is suffering from sleeplessness. In case of acute insomnia, the patient may not require treatment at all. If sleepless night are making it difficult for the person to work on the next day, the doctor may prescribe some sleeping pills to cure the same. Use of over-the-counter sleeping pills to treat insomnia should be best avoided, as they are known to have adverse effects on the individual's body.

In case of chronic insomnia, the treatment is targeted at the treatment of the underlying conditions. In such a scenario, one commonly used measure is cognitive behavioral therapy. More importantly, various relaxation techniques, such as meditation, are also known to provide relief from stress, which is an important factor causing insomnia. Other than this, the person may also have to practice sleep restriction therapy. Herbal remedies include the use of herbs like chamomile and Valerian root to treat sleep deprivation. In toddlers, this disorder should only be treated by medications prescribed by the doctor. Over-the-counter medications should never be used on children.

The effects of sleep deprivation associated with insomnia can make life stressful for the person suffering from this disorder. According to the data compiled by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 50-70 million Americans, belonging to various age groups, suffer from this sleep disorder. Taking into consideration the high incidence of this disorder, being well-versed with its causes and cures does come as a definite advantage.