According to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, “Approximately 30% of a variety of adult samples drawn from different countries report one or more of the symptoms of insomnia: difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, waking up too early, and in some cases, nonrestorative or poor quality of sleep.”
If you’re experiencing symptoms of insomnia, below we review everything you need to know about this sleep disorder.
Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia is usually the result of another condition or lifestyle habit, such as:
- Stress. If you’re concerned about work, school or your home life, you’re more likely to experience insomnia due to your mind being active at night.
- Travel. Traveling a lot, whether for work or pleasure, can throw off your circadian rhythm and cause insomnia as well.
- Poor sleep hygiene. If you’re on your phone while in bed, going to bed at odd hours, taking long naps during the day, etc., this can also contribute to sleep problems.
- Eating late in the evening. Eating late dinners or having midnight snacks can cause physical discomfort such as fullness or heartburn that can keep you up.
- Mental health disorders. People with anxiety or depression commonly experience sleep problems such as insomnia.
- Certain medications. Antidepressants, asthma medications and blood pressure medications can contribute to insomnia.
- Medical conditions. Some conditions linked to insomnia include chronic pain, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), overactive thyroid, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Other sleep disorders. You may experience insomnia symptoms if you also have another sleep disorder like restless legs syndrome.
- Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol intake. These drugs can affect sleep quality and cause insomnia.
Complications of Insomnia
If you have insomnia, you may also experience:
- Poor work or school performance.
- Slower reaction times, especially when driving.
- Mental health disorders like anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
- Increased risk of health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Diagnosing Insomnia
A sleep expert can diagnose insomnia following a:
- Physical exam.
- Review of your sleep habits.
- Sleep study in a sleep clinic.
Treating Insomnia
While there is no sure cure for insomnia, treatment options include:
- Practicing good sleep hygiene. This includes avoiding stimulating activities and substances before bed, going to bed at the same time each night and making your bedroom a peaceful place.
- Undergoing cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been shown to be effective in helping you recognize and change your mindset about sleep so you can fall and stay asleep better.
- Taking over-the-counter sleep aids. The most common option is melatonin.
- Taking prescription medications. Some effective medications include eszopiclone (Lunesta), ramelteon (Rozerem), zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo and Zolpimist).
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Charleston ENT & Allergy today.