Insomnia is a common sleeping disorder where you can’t fall or stay asleep for a long time. The condition can be chronic or acute, and sometimes it comes and goes. It robs you of a good night’s sleep, and without enough rest, many things can go wrong.
Serious risks associated with chronic sleep deprivation include diabetes, high blood pressure, and weight gain. Some signs and symptoms can tell you if you have insomnia. Once your doctor diagnoses it, you should find effective treatment as soon as possible.
Read on to discover different types of insomnia, how to diagnose them, and treatment options.
Types of Insomnia
Primary Insomnia
Primary means the condition is not linked to any other medical issue. It persists for weeks despite having enough time to sleep. It can lead to impaired daytime functioning and other effects if you don’t address it quickly. It can be an indication of other things happening in your life, like constant stress and anxiety.
Secondary Insomnia
Secondary insomnia is linked to other conditions like asthma, arthritis, or depression. You will start experiencing trouble sleeping after being diagnosed with another medical condition. If depression makes you lack sleep, find ways to battle depression, and insomnia may reduce or disappear.
Sleep Onset Insomnia
This is where you have trouble getting to sleep. You will be tossing and turning every time you try to catch some sleep. Most people with sleep onset insomnia can’t sleep even after thirty minutes in bed. It reduces the amount of sleep you get every night.
Sleep Maintenance Insomnia
This means you constantly have a hard time staying asleep all night or waking up too early. You will wake up once or twice a night. You will also have difficulty falling back to sleep when you get up. These disruptions in the middle of the night mean your rest will also be disrupted.
Mixed Insomnia
This is where you have a problem sleeping and staying asleep. It’s a common condition for people with overlapping sleeping problems. It’s a broader term used to describe chronic insomnia. Your symptoms may shift over time, making it hard to classify insomnia as onset or sleep maintenance.
Symptoms
Many things can contribute to the development of insomnia, including psychological, physical, and environmental factors. Common insomnia symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Sleepiness during the day
- Difficulty paying attention or focusing
- Grumpiness or irritability
- Waking up too early
How to Diagnose Insomnia?
Only a medical doctor can diagnose you with insomnia. Once you start noticing these symptoms visit the nearest clinic for a proper exam. Depending on the severity of your condition, the diagnosis may include:
Physical Exam
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and sleep history. If the cause of insomnia is unknown, the doctor will perform a physical exam to look for symptoms of other medical conditions related to insomnia. Blood tests are rare, but the doctor may decide to do blood tests if you need further examination.
Sleeping Habits Review
Aside from the questions, the doctor may require you to keep a sleep diary for one or two weeks. It helps determine your sleep-wake patterns and which type of insomnia you are suffering from. By the end of your sleep review, the doctor will be able to diagnose you properly and advise on the best next step.
Who Has A Predisposition?
Anyone can suffer from insomnia. However, most studies show it’s more common in women than men. Also, people experiencing stressful situations or having medical conditions like depression are more at risk. It also affects people with irregular sleep-wake schedules because of work or other reasons.
What Causes Insomnia?
Untreated insomnia can last for years, and it can be caused by various things. Common causes of insomnia include:
- Mental health disorders
- Poor sleeping habits
- Pain and physical illnesses
- Medications
- Irregular sleeping schedule
Prevention of Insomnia
Sleep hygiene or good sleeping habits can help you prevent insomnia. If you can, go to bed at the same time every night. Get regular exercise and avoid caffeine and your phone before bed. Make your bedroom comfortable and find ways to cope with stress and anxiety. Creating a bedtime routine is the best way to prevent insomnia.
Treatment of Insomnia
Medication
Your doctor will prescribe you sleeping medications like EsZopiclone, ramelteon, zaleplon, among others. Ensure you get a prescription because some over-the-counter medications may not be suitable for long-term use. If there are any side effects to the drugs, your doctor will tell you. Work closely with your doctor to see how effective the pills are and if you need to stop or change to another type of drug.
Hormone Therapy
People with insomnia are less likely to be producing human growth hormones. They might be suffering from HGH deficiency. It’s crucial for mental health; it requires a legal prescription, so ensure you talk to your doctor first. Before considering how to get HGH prescription please note that it’s legal only for people with proven deficiency.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapy can help you control or eliminate negative actions and thoughts that keep you awake. It’s equally effective like insomnia medication and is usually recommended as the first line of treatment. It teaches you to recognize beliefs that may be hindering your sleep and eliminate them.
Relaxation Techniques
Breathing exercises and meditation help you cope with anxiety and stress. One of the leading causes of insomnia is mental disorders like depression, stress, and anxiety. So relaxation techniques can help you sleep better. But these techniques may need other aggressive treatments to go with if you have chronic insomnia.
Conclusion
Insomnia affects thousands of people. Once you start noticing the signs, seek medical help from your doctor. Visiting a clinic is the best way to get a correct diagnosis and proper mediation.
You can prevent insomnia with a few lifestyle changes. Try to change your sleeping habits and avoid taking naps during the day. If it’s associated with other medical conditions, treat the underlying condition, and insomnia will reduce.
