A brief about Insomnia, its symptoms, causes, and prevention tips

Posted by Emily Brown on May 20th, 2021

Chronic insomnia is identified by the symptoms that occur at least five times a week. Mild to moderate insomnia could occur thrice a week. Insomnia that lasts only for a few days could be termed as short-term Insomnia. In some rare cases of insomnia, patients might not meet the criteria for being an insomniac however, these patients demand proper treatment. Insomnia is caused by different symptoms that could get worse if left untreated. Let’s know about the Insomnia symptoms-

People who are suffering from insomnia might come across these symptoms. Mentioned below are some recurrent symptoms of insomnia-

• Waking up too early in the morning
• Lack of restorative sleep
• Trouble in falling asleep or staying asleep

These symptoms can aggravate other symptoms too, these symptoms are listed below-

• Unwanted fatigue
• Mood swings
• Irritation

You might also experience difficulty in concentrating on small tasks during the day.

Many contributing factors can lead to insomnia. Mentioned below are some causes of insomnia-

Causes of sleep apnea depend on the type of sleeplessness you experience. Short term insomnia and severe insomnia can be caused due to these factors-

• Depression or anxiety issues
• Traumatic episodes or unwanted events affecting sleep patterns
• Physical pain
• Jet lag
• Certain medications

Chronic insomnia might last for at least three months and it could be primary and secondary too. However, there are points caused by primary insomnia. Secondary insomnia could be caused due to these conditions-

• Some medical conditions such as arthritis, pain in the back, etc.
• Mental issues such as depression and anxiety.
• Usage of unwanted substances such as cannabis Sativa.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea device
• Diabetes  

Risk factors for Sleep Apnea

Insomnia could occur at any age and it is more likely to affect women than men. The risk factors include-

• A higher proportion of stress
• Psychological disorders such as depression and discomfort caused due to a life event.
• Bad financial condition
• Long traveling hours
• Inactive lifestyle
• Changes in the work hours or working in the shifts

Some medical conditions such as obesity and cardiovascular disease could also lead to insomnia. Menstrual conditions can also cause Insomnia.

However, it can be treated with certain medications and some lifestyle changes. Mentioned below are treatment methods of Sleep Apnea.

Treatments of Insomnia

There are both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatment approaches that could help in the prevention.

Your doctor might contact you about the treatment methods, one which could be an appropriate approach.

Your doctor might recommend sleep hygiene training. Sometimes, our lifestyle might interfere with our sleeping patterns. You will be able to get rid of disruptive sleep behavior while sleeping. Changes include-

• Avoiding caffeinated products at least before six hours before hitting the bed.
• Avoid regressive workout routine around bedtime
• Do not spend time in bed especially when you’re not sleeping. For example- Watching TV, scrolling through social media, etc.
• Also, there might be some underlying conditions that could disrupt your sleep and contribute to sleeplessness. Also, these conditions can aggravate the symptoms of insomnia.

Insomnia could be improved with some medication but only after prescribed by the doctor.

Insomnia Medications

• Over the counter medications are also consumed by people. This medication includes- antihistamine and Benadryl.
• Such medications can have some severe side effects in the long term. Therefore, it is important to consult your doctor before consuming these pills.

Prescribed medicines that will help for treating Insomnia-

• Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• Zolpidem (Ambien)

Meditation

Meditation is an easy and natural remedy for treating insomnia. Meditation can improve the underlying conditions contributing to Insomnia.

It is can improve the following conditions-

• Stress
• Anxiety issues
• Depression
• Psychological pain
• Digestive problems

These were the points aggravating insomnia symptoms and worsening the disorder.