We all know how sleep is important to our daily lives. However, insomnia, a common sleep disorder, affects more than three million people each year in the United States. What causes insomnia? What are some ways to treat insomnia? Read this article to find out!
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Insomnia may cause people to have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting good quality sleep. People with insomnia may also find themselves being easily awaken as well. Because of insomnia, people may feel tired during the day and find it difficult to focus or concentrate.
Have you ever found it hard to fall asleep for a whole week? You were tired and unrested, but you just couldn’t sleep, and the feeling of anxiety started to bother you. This condition is known as short-term insomnia, and may be caused by stress, changes in your schedule or environment, or even over-excitement. With short-term insomnia, you may find yourself having sleeping problems for only a few days or weeks. However, long-term insomnia, or chronic insomnia, is something a lot harder to deal with. It occurs at least three nights a week, and can last for more than three months. Unlike short-term insomnia, which we have an approximate idea of what it is caused by, long-term insomnia can’t be fully explained by another health problem or other factors.
The effects of insomnia are significant. Long-term insomnia can cause high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. However, if we recognize the signs and symptoms and familiarize ourselves with the treatments, the risk can be reduced.
Obviously, the major symptom for insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep. However, most people who have insomnia may not notice anything wrong. Untreated insomnia raises the risk of getting other disorders and also threatens the ability to memorize and concentrate. Here are some signs or symptoms of insomnia:
Being awake for a long time before falling asleep
Sleeping for only short periods of time and waking up frequently during the night
Waking up early in the morning but not being able to fall asleep again
Having poor-quality of sleep and waking up feeling tired or unrested
If the symptoms described above occur for a long period of time, then you may have insomnia.
Because sleep is so important to our health, healthy sleeping habits are vital. Some ways to ensure better quality of sleep are listed below:
Avoid artificial light (such as TV or electronic devices)
Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol before or close to bedtime
Exercise during the day
Not taking a nap too long during the day
Having a regular sleeping schedule
Eat meals on a regular schedule and avoid late-night dinners
Talk to someone when feeling stressed or depressed
The tips listed above are only a small portion of things that may be helpful, but when the symptoms of insomnia are very severe, it is better to go to a doctor to ask for professional help.
Insomnia affects people's lives on a daily-basis. To prevent insomnia, one should adopt healthy sleep habits and a regular daytime schedule. Additionally, it's important to always have sympathy and patience when talking to people with insomnia because you never know what they're going through.
Sleep and health are two things that are closely related to each other. To live a healthy life, start by getting enough sleep and rest!
Written by: Benetta Wang
Source:
“Insomnia | NHLBI, NIH.” NHLBI, NIH, 2 Mar. 2020, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/insomnia.
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