What Is Insomnia?

Sleep is important. It¡¯s because sleep takes a big part of our lives. We spend almost one third of our lifetime asleep. Therefore, if we do not sleep well, problems occur. People with sleeping problems get tired easily. They even get ill.

The difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both, despite adequate opportunity and time to sleep is known as insomnia. This may be due to poor quality or quantity of sleep.

Insomnia is very common and occurs in 30 percent to 50 percent of the general population. It affects people of all ages including children. However, it is more common in adults and its frequency increases with age. In general, women are affected more frequently than men.

Insomnia may be divided into three classes based on the duration of symptoms. Insomnia lasting one week or less may be termed transient insomnia. Short-term insomnia lasts more than one week but resolves in less than three weeks and long-term or chronic insomnia lasts more than three weeks.

Insomnia may have many causes. These include fear, stress, anxiety, work problems, financial stress, caffeine intake, cigarette smoking and alcohol intoxication. Stressful situations in life such as divorce or separation, death of a loved one, losing a job, preparing for an examination, etc. can also cause insomnia.

Many insomniacs rely on sleeping tablets and other sedatives to get rest. Research results show that medications are prescribed to over 95 percent of insomniac cases.

Non-medical treatments for insomnia suggested are maintaining a regular sleep schedule, not forcing oneself to sleep, not drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol in the evening and exercising regularly.