Insomnia: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis ... - WebMD

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep. The condition can be short-term (acute) or can last a ... MenuNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesBlogsVideosMedicationsFindaNeurologistGoodSleepHabitsSleepDisordersOtherSleepProblemsWhatAffectsSleepTests&TreatmentsTools&ResourcesCircadianRhythmDrugInteractionCheckerInsomniaRestlessLegsSyndromeSleepApneaSnoringTeethGrindingTrackYourSleepMoreRelatedTopicsSleepDisordersReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyJenniferRobinson, MDonJuly21,2021InthisArticleWhatIsInsomnia?TypesofInsomniaInsomniaCausesInsomniaRiskFactorsInsomniaSymptomsInsomniaDiagnosisInsomniaTreatmentInsomniaComplicationsInsomniaPreventionWhatIsInsomnia?Insomniaisasleepdisorderinwhichyouhavetroublefallingand/orstayingasleep.Theconditioncanbeshort-term(acute)orcanlastalongtime(chronic).Itmayalsocomeandgo.Acuteinsomnialastsfrom1nighttoafewweeks.Insomniaischronicwhenithappensatleast3nightsaweekfor3monthsormore.TypesofInsomniaTherearetwotypesofinsomnia:primaryandsecondary.Primaryinsomnia:Thismeansyoursleepproblemsaren’tlinkedtoanyotherhealthconditionorproblem.Secondaryinsomnia:Thismeansyouhavetroublesleepingbecauseofahealthcondition(likeasthma,depression,arthritis,cancer,orheartburn);pain;medication;orsubstanceuse(likealcohol).Youmightalsohearabout:Sleep-onsetinsomnia:Thismeansyouhavetroublegettingtosleep.Sleep-maintenanceinsomnia:Thishappenswhenyouhavetroublestayingasleepthroughthenightorwakeuptooearly.Mixedinsomnia:Withthistypeofinsomnia,youhavetroublebothfallingasleepandstayingasleepthroughthenight.  Paradoxicalinsomnia:Whenyouhaveparadoxicalinsomnia,youunderestimatethetimeyou'reasleep.Itfeelslikeyousleepalotlessthanyoureallydo.InsomniaCausesPrimarycausesof insomnia include:Stress relatedtobiglifeevents,likeajoblossorchange,thedeathofalovedone,divorce,ormovingThingsaroundyoulikenoise,light,ortemperatureChangestoyoursleepschedulelike jetlag,anewshiftatwork,orbadhabitsyoupickedupwhenyouhadothersleepproblemsYourgenes.Researchhasfoundthatatendencyforinsomniamayruninfamilies.Secondarycausesof insomnia include:Mentalhealth issueslike depression and anxietyMedicationsforcolds, allergies,depression, highbloodpressure,and asthma.PainordiscomfortatnightCaffeine, tobacco,oralcoholuse,aswellasuseofillicitdrugs.Hyperthyroidism andotherendocrineproblemsOthersleepdisorders,like sleepapnea or restlesslegssyndromePregnancyAlzheimer'sdiseaseandothertypesofdementiaADHDPMSandmenopauseInsomniaRiskFactorsInsomniaaffectswomenmorethanmenandolderpeoplemorethanyoungerones.Youngandmiddle-ageAfricanAmericansalsohaveahigherrisk.Otherriskfactorsinclude:Long-termillnessMentalhealthissuesWorkingnightshiftsorshiftsthatrotateInsomniaSymptomsSymptomsofinsomniainclude:SleepinessduringthedayFatigueGrumpinessProblemswithconcentrationormemoryInsomniaDiagnosisYourdoctorwilldoaphysicalexamandaskaboutyourmedicalhistoryandsleephistory.Theymighttellyoutokeepasleepdiaryforaweekortwo,keepingtrackofyoursleeppatternsandhowyoufeelduringtheday.Theymaytalktoyourbedpartnerabouthowmuchandhowwellyou’resleeping.Youmightalsohavespecialtestsatasleepcenter.InsomniaTreatmentAcuteinsomniamaynotneedtreatment.Ifit’shardforyoutodoeverydayactivitiesbecauseyou’retired,yourdoctormayprescribesleepingpillsforashorttime.Medicinesthatworkquicklybutbrieflycanhelpyouavoidproblemslikedrowsinessthenextday.Don’tuseover-the-countersleepingpillsforinsomnia.Theymighthavesideeffects,andtheytendtoworklesswellovertime.Forchronicinsomnia,you’llneedtreatmentfortheconditionsorhealthproblemsthatarekeepingyouawake.Yourdoctormightalsosuggestbehavioraltherapy.Thiscanhelpyouchangethethingsyoudothatmakeinsomniaworseandlearnwhatyoucandotopromotesleep.InsomniaComplicationsOurbodiesandbrainsneedsleepsotheycanrepairthemselves.It’salsocrucialforlearningandkeepingmemories.Ifinsomniaiskeepingyouawake,youcouldhave:Ahigherriskofhealthproblemslikehighbloodpressure,obesity,anddepressionAhigherriskoffalling,ifyou’reanolderwomanTroublefocusingAnxietyGrumpinessSlowreactiontimethatcanleadtoacarcrashInsomniaPreventionGoodsleephabits,alsocalledsleephygiene,canhelpyoubeatinsomnia.Herearesometips:Gotosleepatthesametimeeachnight,andgetupatthesametimeeachmorning.Trynottotakenapsduringtheday,becausetheymaymakeyoulesssleepyatnight.Don’tusephonesore-booksbeforebed.Theirlightcanmakeithardertofallasleep.Avoidcaffeine,nicotine,andalcohollateintheday.Caffeineandnicotinearestimulantsandcankeepyoufromfallingasleep.Alcoholcanmakeyouwakeupinthemiddleofthenightandhurtyoursleepquality.Getregularexercise.Trynottoworkoutclosetobedtime,becauseitmaymakeithardtofallasleep.Expertssuggestexercisingatleast3to4hoursbeforebed.Don'teataheavymeallateintheday.Butalightsnackbeforebedtimemayhelpyousleep.Makeyourbedroomcomfortable:dark,quiet,andnottoowarmortoocold.Iflightisaproblem,useasleepingmask.Tocoverupsounds,tryearplugs,afan,orawhitenoisemachine.Followaroutinetorelaxbeforebed.Readabook,listentomusic,ortakeabath.Don’tuseyourbedforanythingotherthansleepandsex.Ifyoucan'tfallasleepandaren’tdrowsy,getupanddosomethingcalming,likereadinguntilyoufeelsleepy.Ifyoutendtolieawakeandworryaboutthings,makeato-dolistbeforeyougotobed.Thismayhelpyouputyourconcernsasideforthenight.NextArticleWhyYouSnoreandHowtoStopVideo:YogaforBetterSleepWhat'sCausingYourAches?YourSleepPositionandYourHealthWhat'stheBestSleepPosition?[ss_icon]13JobsThatCanWreckYourSleepInsomniaMythsandFactsSlideshow:InsomniaMythsandFactsSleepDisordersHealthCheck-TaketheWebMDSleepinessAssessmentTestYourSmartsonPoorSleepandHowtoFixItWhenCountingSheepFails:TheLatestSleepMedicationsUndercoverInvestigationInsomniaTopicsFightFatigue12reasonswhyyou'retired--andhowtofightthem.SleepApneaCanyoutellmythfromfact?ZzzzzzzzzzzWhatdoyourdreamssayaboutyou?Wake-UpTips11waystomakethemorningeasier.QuizWhatDoYourDreamsSayAboutYou?SlideshowHowYourSleepPositionAffectsYourHealthArticleADHDandSleepProblemsQuizWhyYouNeedZZZsSlideshowFoodsThatHelporHarmYourSleepToolsStillAwake?GetPersonalizedTipstoHelpYouSleepQuizInsomnia?TestYourSleepSmartsSlideshowSleepProblems:YourEssentialGuideWhyYouSnoreandHowtoStopJobsThatWreckYourSleepWhyYouNeedtoGetEnoughSleep10WaystoRestWithaColdVideo:YogaMovesforBetterSleepWhat'stheBestSleepPosition?HealthSolutionsPenisCurvedWhenErect?CouldIhaveCAD?TreatBentFingersTreatHR+,HER2-MBCTiredofDandruff?BenefitsofCBDRethinkMSTreatmentAFib-RelatedStrokesRiskofaFutureDVT/PEIsMyPenisNormal?RelapsingMSOptionsLiverTransplantsSaveLivesFinancePlasticSurgeryBentFingerCausesLivingWithPsoriasis?MissingTeeth?MorefromWebMD5TipstoHelpWithRelapsingMSHowtoThriveWithNarcolepsyReliefforBlockedHairFolliclesPsoriaticArthritisandYourSleepWhatPsoriasisFeelsLikeFirstPsoriaticArthritisFlareTalkingtoYourDoctorAboutRACrohn's:A'Full-Body'DiseaseAvoidingCrohn’sFlaresHealthBenefitsofHempSeedOilLiveBetterWithPsoriaticDiseaseTypesofB-CellTherapyforMS5HealthBenefitsofHempWhyProstateCancerSpreadsLivingwithAdvancedBreastCancerWhereBreastCancerSpreads