Insomnia Symptoms
An individual diagnosed with this type of sleep disorder will generally have one or more of the following symptoms: · Difficulty falling asleep There is more than one type of insomnia, and the causes and symptoms of each type will have to be treated differently in every patient. The four main types are primary, secondary, acute and chronic. Each group has its own set of causes, and the treatments done to alleviate each will differ as well. One important tip we can offer is this: turn off the computer, iPad, and any other "glowing screen" devices several hours before bed time. Those bright lights in your eyes can interfere with your sleep rhythms. They can act like sunlight and fool your brain into thinking it is morning or noon, instead of night time. Primary Insomnia In primary Insomnia the sufferer typically has sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem. This temporary condition is often treated with sleep aids or by changing nightly sleep habits. Secondary Insomnia Secondary Insomnia means that the patient’s inability to sleep is being caused by a secondary condition or reason. It could be a health condition, like depression, heartburn or asthma, leading to having a difficult time falling asleep. It could also be due to chronic pain, or the side effect of a medication they have been taking for pain. Substance abuse will also cause sleep deprivation in some cases, especially alcohol abuse. Acute Insomnia Insomnia can also vary in the length of time it lasts, as well as how often it occurs. When it is considered to be short-term, from one night to a few weeks, it is considered to be an acute condition. The causes can range from the physical to the environmental, and can include: · Significant life stress: job loss, death, divorce, and moving. To be considered chronic, the sleep disorder should last for at least three nights a week, for a month or more. There can be many causes, many extreme and recurring without cessation: · Depression All four types share the common symptoms listed above, but acute and chronic insomnia can also be represented by the following symptoms, in varying degrees of severity: · Sleepiness during the day Because insomnia is often difficult to clearly diagnose, unlike conditions like sleep apnea and other sleeping disorders it may take some time for the physician to determine what exact condition the patient is dealing with. The patient’s sleep patterns will often be monitored, either in a sleep lab setting or by keeping a sleep diary. There may also be physical examinations done to rule out other physical conditions that may be causing the difficulty. |