Insomnia; Common sleep disorder symptoms

Category: Health

The Insomnia?

Insomnia is among the most common sleep disorder that makes it difficult for a person to fall asleep. People with this condition might also find it hard to stay asleep or find themselves waking up early and unable to get back to sleep. They might also feel tired after waking up as insomnia can such energy and have adverse effects on working performance, health, and quality of life. According to the APA (American psychiatric association), insomnia is the most common of all sleep disorders, as nearly one-third of the adults report experiencing insomnia symptoms. Around 6 to 10% of all adults experience symptoms severe enough to get an insomnia disorder diagnosis. The CDC (centers for disease control and prevention) states that adults require at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every 24 hours. Though symptoms of insomnia are widespread, doctors only make a clinical diagnosis for this condition if they fulfill the following criteria: Sleeping problems are occurring for at least three nights a week for the last three months. The problem in sleeping is causing significant distress or difficulties in the daily functioning of life.

Types of Insomnia

You can experience two types of insomnia: Primary insomnia: This means that the sleeping problems you are facing are not a byproduct of any other mental or physical health issue. Secondary insomnia: This condition refers to the sleeping problems that manifest as a result of other health conditions like depression, pain, arthritis, heartburn, asthma, cancer, etc.

Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia can be the main problem, or it might be a result of another condition. Chronic insomnia usually develops because of stress, life events, or behavior that disrupts sleep. Doctors generally treat the underlying causes to get rid of insomnia, but sometimes it can take significantly longer for this condition to disappear.

Insomnia causes

Stress Poor sleep habits Travel and work schedule Excessive eating late in the evening Mental health disorders Medications Medical conditions Sleep-related disorders Caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine

Signs and Symptoms

Fatigue and daytime sleepiness Low motivation Lack of energy Lack of coordination Headaches Irritability Anxiety Depression Difficulty concentrating and focusing Gastrointestinal problems Worry about sleeping Needing medication to fall asleep Being clumsy Difficulty working, studying, or socializing Making careless mistakes

Diagnosis

Some people may need to go through an overnight sleep study to make sure if they have insomnia. This type of research usually involves assessment tools, including a polysomnogram and various sleep latency tests. The sleep specialist carefully determines what sort of problem an individual is having, as people with other disorders, including delayed sleep phase disorder, often get misdiagnosed with primary insomnia. In most cases, Insomnia is a result of another disease or a side effect of some medication or a psychological problem. Almost half of the diagnosed insomnia cases are related to psychiatric disorders. However, determining the cause is not necessary for a diagnosis.