Insomnia - The Symptoms, Affects, and Treatments

Insomnia - The Symptoms, Affects, and Treatments

Do you lie awake at night spending more time staring at the ceiling than sleeping? You are not alone! Millions of other people are experiencing the same thing all across the world. They wake up in the middle of the night, can't fall back to sleep and rise before dawn.

Forms Of Insomnia

Insomnia comes in many forms, not just in the form of sleeplessness:

Difficulty falling asleep

Having problems staying asleep after falling asleep. Waking up many times

during the night.

Waking up too early.

Not feeling refreshed after waking up.

The Symptoms Of Insomnia

Insomnia can have a serious affect on a person’s daily life style. Symptoms of insomnia can include all of the following:

Feeling sleepy during the day

Having poor or slow judgment

Inability to pay attention to detail

Inability to remember things - even things that happened only minutes before.

Easily irritated by minor things

Types Of Insomnia

Transient Insomnia - a temporary effect that lasts just a few days.

Short-Term Insomnia - lasts for between two to four weeks.

Chronic Insomnia - lasts for a month or longer.

Causes Of Insomnia

There are many causes for insomnia. Below are some of the most common reasons people suffer from insomnia.

Stress - There are many stress management aides available to assist you in reducing your stress.

Noise in the sleeping environment

Extreme temperatures - too hot or too cold

Changes in your surrounding environment

Worrying about not being able to sleep

Excessive napping during the day time

Too much caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol before bedtime. Smoking contributes to many health related problems and you should try to quit smoking..

Tips For Getting A Good Night’s Sleep

Following some of the helpful guidelines below can help you get a better night’s sleep:

Set A Schedule

Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. This will help your body get used to a sleeping pattern. "Sleeping in" on the weekends can cause insomnia because it is interrupting the sleep cycle that your body is used to.

Get Some Exercise

Try to get 20 to 30 minutes of exercise no sooner than 6 hours before bedtime- any exercise just before bed may cause you not to sleep that well.

Avoid Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol

Avoid things that contain any caffeine such as coffee, soda pop, teas, and candy. Smokers usually sleep very lightly at night and will wake up at the slightest noise, sometimes not being able to fall back asleep. The same goes for people that drink alcohol just before going to bed.

Do Something Relaxing Before Going To Bed

Doing something that relaxes you before bed is good such as a warm bath, reading a book, or watching your favorite TV show.

Do Not Over Sleep

Be sure to wake up and get out of bed at your normal time frame. Sleeping more hours than you are used to will throw off your sleep cycle and cause sleeping problems. It may cause you to not be tired at night and then go to bed later, thus resulting in sleeping in even later the next morning.

Control Your Room Temperature

Extreme cold or warmth can cause you to sleep poorly. Be sure to maintain a comfortable room temperature that won't aggravate you during the night. If you have a waterbed be sure to set the water temperature at a comfortable temperature as well.

When It Is Time To See A Doctor

If your sleeping problem persists for more than one month then it may be time to visit your family doctor. Your doctor will be able to give you advice for your particular needs and can prescribe stronger sleeping aides that are not available over the counter.

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