 |
Chronic insomnia is one category of sleep disorders that adults having trouble falling asleep fall into. Insomnia can affect individuals of all ages but occurs mainly in adults. In fact, one in three... |
Chronic insomnia is one category of sleep disorders that adults having trouble falling asleep fall into. Insomnia can affect individuals of all ages but occurs mainly in adults. In fact, one in three adults have some difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Some wake up too early in the morning and then can’t get back to sleep. Insomnia can lead to irritability, excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, and inability to function at work, school or in relationships.
Acute insomnia lasts for day or it can last for weeks. It is usually caused by stress and or excitement. It can be debilitating. There are treatments that can be used to help the individual manage better. One treatment is hypnotics. Without treatment acute insomnia can turn into a conditioned insomnia, which is a chronic disorder.
If the chronic insomnia lasts for more than a few months or years, it is usually a sign that there is an underlying disorder that may be physical or mental in nature. These are the more commonly underlying conditions for chronic insomnia:
Conditioned Insomnia is when acute insomnia becomes worse due to anxiety over not being able to get to sleep. Re-establishing normal sleep patterns, and or the use of relaxation techniques can help patients. Hypnotics are also used for short periods of time in order to help the patient deal with anxiety and to help them reestablish confidence in their ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Poor sleep hygiene can be an underlying cause for chronic insomnia. Poor sleep hygiene usually refers to behaviors that can influence the quality or quantity of sleep. Behavior modification techniques are used to help make the bedroom a place that induces rest. A regular sleep schedule is helpful as well as learning relaxation techniques. Exercise prior to bedtime can also help as well as cutting down the use of stimulants prior to bedtime. It may help to insure that the environment is not only restful but also comfortable as well including the proper temperature, proper bedding supplies and proper lighting or absence of lighting and noise.
Anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, chronic psychoses, and depression accounts for as much as 50% of all chronic insomnias. When these underlying disorders are properly treated with medications and other remedies the sleep issues are often improved. Doctors need to be careful as many of the antidepressants being prescribed can induce insomnia. If after psychiatric treatment is in full swing, the sleep disturbances continue there may be another underlying cause, it is not that unusual to have more than one underlying cause for chronic insomnia.
Medical disorders can contribute to chronic sleep disorders such as cardiac disorders (nocturnal angina or paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea). Pulmonary dysfunction such as COPD and chronic bronchitis and also gastrointestinal difficulties such as nocturnal reflux can lead to physical discomforts that make falling asleep difficult. Medical conditions that cause pain are often reasons for sleeplessness including arthritis, and fibromyalgia.