Insomnia - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments

In the United States, approximately 30-50% of people suffer from Insomnia out of which 10% suffer from chronic forms.

When we use the word insomnia, we must understand that it is a symptom and not a standalone disease. There are three different forms of insomnia, that can cause difficulty in falling asleep and therefore your health.  Jet lag and changes in work shifts are also reasons for sleepless nights.

Symptoms which last less than a week are classified as transient insomnia. Symptoms which last between one to three weeks are classified as short-term insomnia and the third classification of chronic insomnia is when the symptoms last more than 3 weeks.

The first confusion is when to start a medical treatment. The simple answer is that medical advice should be sought if the symptoms last more than three to four weeks. The medical treatments can include the usage of Benzodiazepine sedatives, melatonin or some anti-depressants. The first treatments may not always give the desired results. However, there is no reason to lose hope if the first bout of treatment does not help and he problem persists.

It is strongly suggested that prevention of insomnia is the best approach, rather than waiting for the symptoms to affect you. If you have an active lifestyle, you should always learn to relax. Relaxation breathing techniques are a great way to relieve stress and anxiety.

Be mindful of your intake of alcohol and caffeine, both of which can negatively impact your sleeping.  Regular exercise - generally avoid right before bed - is a great way to help you unwind from the day and fall asleep faster.

It’s also important to establish a fixed-time to go to bed and wakeup. This will set your biological clock and help you get to sleep at a regular time.

Insomnia symptoms arise due to various reasons and are curable.  Therefore don’t panic.  Get a medical professional to help diagnose the problem to your disrupted sleep and make some adjustments. Hopefully, without medication, you’ll be back to “sawing logs” in no time.

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