“I can’t sleep…I’m so tired…If only I could get some rest, I would feel so much better.” Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder in the general population.
Insomnia is the difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or waking up too frequently or too early with the inability to fall back asleep despite adequate opportunity for sleep with subsequent daytime impairment.
Inadequate sleep affects an individual’s quality of life. Insomnia can cause morning and daytime fatigue, irritability, mood changes causing an overall negative impact on mental health, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and difficulty coping with physical and emotional stress. Lack of sleep can affect one’s pain threshold, so that insomnia can lead to one feeling more bodily pain.
Sleep is so essential for our bodies. Have you ever considered that more than 1/4 of your life is spent sleeping?
Although most adults need around 7-9 hours of sleep, it is difficult to state how much sleep “the average adult” needs because everyone is different, and the quality of sleep determines the duration of sleep required to function at their best.
At some point in time, everyone has had difficulty sleeping. So, when do you consider that you may have a sleep disorder and should seek medical attention? Acute insomnia is short-term sleep difficulties that last for a few days or weeks and is often triggered by stress. A 2018 study from the University of Pennsylvania found that 25% of Americans develop acute insomnia each year, but about 75% will recover normal sleep. However, 25% of those patients may progress to chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia is defined as when a person has sleep difficulties with daytime symptoms at least three days per week for more than three months. Chronic insomnia can contribute to other health problems such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, mental health disorders, dementia, weakened immune system causing frequent illness, weight gain, and obesity. Chronic insomnia can also lead to driving accidents, injuries, and falls. It is very important to see your healthcare provider if you have insomnia symptoms. Not only to improve your quality of life and prevent long-term health problems but also to be evaluated for other health conditions that could be causing insomnia. Secondary insomnia is trouble sleeping due to a medical condition.
Primary insomnia is difficulty sleeping; a health condition does not cause that.
Some patients hesitate to seek evaluation and treatment for insomnia because they do not want to take a “sleeping pill.”
However, there are many lifestyle modifications and other treatment options to consider with your healthcare provider.
The article below is a review analysis of the efficacy of acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia related to depression.
Some patients may be familiar with the use of melatonin to treat insomnia. There are other herbal medication options, which are highlighted in the article below. It is always important to discuss current prescription medications with your healthcare provider to ensure there is no potential interaction with herbal treatments before use.