Insomnia is defined in various ways: habitual sleeplessness, wakefulness, difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomnia is not a medical condition but rather a symptom of some problem either physical or mental. There are two types of insomnia.
Primary insomnia is a condition where the person is having difficulty sleeping due to an immediate problem. Secondary insomnia is a person who has sleep problems because of some underlying condition such as depression, cancer, arthritis, asthma, pain or some medications and alcohol or drugs or sleep apnea.
About 30 to 40% of adults will experience insomnia at some time in their lives. It only becomes a problem if it interferes with life. As a person ages, he/she sleeps less. This is normal and if it does not affect day to day activities then it is not a concern.
There can be acute or chronic insomnia. Acute insomnia is short-term lasting for one night to a few weeks. Chronic insomnia lasts for several months or more.
Causes of acute insomnia
- Life stresses, loss of a job, moving, loss of a loved one, divorce
- Illness or physical discomfort
- Environmental factors: noise, light, extreme hot or cold temperatures.
- Some medications for treating colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure and asthma.
- Change of normal sleep pattern such as shift change, jet lag, staying up late or napping. This can be acute or turn into chronic insomnia.
Causes of chronic insomnia
An underlying health problem such as problems with the heart, lungs, breathing problems (such as sleep apnea) and digestive tract problems including kidneys, liver, pancreas,
- Depression/Anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Pain or discomfort at night
- Sleep habits/ keeping odd hours
- Too much coffee or alcohol
- Hormonal changes such as menopause or pregnancy
Symptoms of insomnia
- Trouble falling asleep/trouble staying asleep
- Waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep
- Not feeling refreshed or rested despite enough sleeping hours.
- Feeling tired or sleepy during the day
- Feeling irritable/anxious
- Headaches
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating during the day
Insomnia is not good for long-term health and affects a person’s enjoyment of life by limiting the activities one would normally engage in because of tiredness.
If you feel you have any of the above symptoms please contact Urban Integrative IV and Detox Clinic.