Insomnia Causes and Symptoms

It is estimated that as many as 40 million Americans suffer from insomnia - a health disorder typically characterized by the person's inability to sleep. Even though this sleep disorder is so prevalent, not many people actually know about its causes and symptoms. It is this ignorance about insomnia causes and symptoms that makes the diagnosis and treatment of this condition difficult. Insomnia is basically divided into two types acute insomnia, which lasts for less than three weeks, and chronic insomnia, which lasts for a month or more.

Insomnia: An Overview

The causes and symptoms of these 2 types of insomnia differ from one another by a significant extent. In fact, chronic insomnia, also known as severe insomnia, is a serious health condition which has to be diagnosed and treated at the earliest. Given below are the details of symptoms and causes of insomnia.

Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia can be attributed to a range of factors, which can be broadly categorized into three groups - psychological problems, medical problems and medications which cure these psychological and medical problems. Psychological ailments which cause insomnia range from simple stress and depression to some of the major mental illnesses of the world. In fact, insomnia and depression have a strong link to each other. Medical ailments which cause insomnia include a wide range of diseases and disorders, ranging from asthma to some type of cancer. A number of medications also have the tendency to hamper our sleep, and result in severe insomnia.

Acute insomnia causes are mostly related to stress or depression caused by some incidents of life (such as job loss or divorce) or the inability of a person to function properly. The inability of the person to cope up with the inconvenience associated with the underlying medical problems can cause acute insomnia in individuals. Similarly, the causes of chronic insomnia most often revolve around factors such as chronic stress and depression which can leave a person devoid of sleep for months together. There also exist some medical problems, such as cancer and kidney stones, which can result in chronic insomnia. Similarly some of the most prominent sleep disorders which are known to cause insomnia are sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome etc.

Signs and Symptoms of Insomnia
Contrary to the popular belief, insomnia symptoms go way beyond mere sleeplessness. An individual suffering from insomnia will have a tough time falling asleep owing to the underlying factors, and even if he manages to sleep, it will be difficult for him to stay asleep for a long time. The fact that the person spends sleepless nights will reflect on his behavior during the next day, which will be predominantly marked by irritability and confusion. The said person will feel sleepy during the day, and this sleepiness will affect his levels of concentration. If any of these symptoms are observed, it would be better to opt for insomnia diagnosis before the problem itself (or the underlying factor which triggers the problem) worsens, and gives rise to further complications.

Though serious, insomnia is also one of the most underrated ailments that you are likely to suffer from. In case of mild insomnia, you can resort to various home remedies for insomnia to ease the problems. However, if the problem persists for a longer duration, it is wise to consult a doctor and undergo proper sleep deprivation treatment. In case of severe insomnia, the treatment procedure will include identification of the underlying cause and treatment of the same.