Six Types of Insomnia

[marilyn glover]

What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is the experience of inadequate sleep or of poor quality
sleep often typified by one or more of the following insomnia
symptoms:
Difficulty getting off to sleepDifficulty staying asleep or frequent
night wakingEarly morning waking, orSleep that doesn't have a
refreshing affect
With the daytime consequences being
TirednessLow energy levelsIrritability, andLack of concentration
Around 30 to 40 percent of adults experience some level of insomnia
within any year, and of these around 10 to 15 percent suffer from
severe or chronic insomnia. As we have already seen, insomnia
increases with age but is also more commonly experienced by women.
Sleeping disorders occur from infancy through to old age with a
significant rise in incidence in old age. Most people don't consult a
doctor about their problem or resort to sleeping pills or
tranquilizers to help. Lack of sleep accumulates into what is known as
a sleep debt, with many people carrying a huge sleep debt without
realizing. People with greater sleep debts are slower to recover from
illness and are more vulnerable to catching infections, viruses and
other illnesses.
How is insomnia diagnosed?
If you have disturbed sleep and think you have insomnia it is
important to see a doctor. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for
a week or two, noting the patterns of your sleep (or lack of them) and
your daily routines.
You will need to discuss your sleep diary with your doctor. It may be
necessary for your doctor to do a physical examination as well as
taking notes of your medical history. In some cases, you may be
referred to a specialist sleep center.
Types of Insomnia
Acute Insomnia
This is defined as periods of sleep loss that last from between one
night and a few weeks. Acute insomnia can often be caused by emotional
worries and anxiety or physical discomfort. Some common examples
include:
Significant life stress, such as bereavement or marital breakdown
Acute illness, or Environmental disturbances such as noise, light or
temperature
Jet lag also counts as acute insomnia.
Chronic insomnia
This is defined as periods of sleep loss that occur for at least three
nights per week for one month or longer. Chronic insomnia can be
caused by various different factors acting on their own or in
combinations. These factors may occur along with other health
problems.
Insomnia associated with psychiatric, medical or neurological
disorders
Psychiatric disorders are a common source of chronic insomnia, however
they account for less than 50 percent of cases. Anxiety and mood
disorders are the most common psychiatric conditions that are
associated with insomnia. Insomnia is also associated with a wide
range of medical and neurological disorders.
Factors that cause problems throughout the day such as pain,
immobility, breathing difficulties, dementia, and hormonal changes
associated with pregnancy or menopause can also cause insomnia. Many
medical disorders worsen at night such as asthma or acid reflux which
is worsened by lying down.
Insomnia associated with medication and substance use
A variety of prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs can lead to
wakefulness and poor-quality sleep. Some drugs, legal and non-legal,
that are commonly related to insomnia include:
Caffeine NicotineAlcoholStimulating antidepressantsSteroidsSome over
the counter cold and flu remediesBeta blockers, andRecreational drugs
such as ecstasy, amphetamines and cocaine
Insomnia associated with specific sleep disorders
Insomnia can be associated with specific sleep disorders including:
Sleep apneaRestless legs syndrome (RLS)Periodic limb movement disorder
(PLMD)Circadian rhythm sleep disorders such as jet lag
Primary Insomnia
When other causes of insomnia have been investigated and ruled out,
difficulty with sleep may be classified as primary insomnia. Factors
such as chronic stress, hyper-arousal and behavioral conditioning may
be contributors to Primary Insomnia.
Sleep patterns do alter as we get older with older, people tending to
sleep more lightly. As our bodies age our quality of sleep becomes
poorer and becomes lighter, less efficient and less restful.Your
physician or other practitioner may prescribe insomnia medication to
help you get to sleep, commonly known as sleeping
tablets.
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