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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Charu Sabharwal, MD, DABSM
Understanding and Recognizing Insomnia
Comprehensive Sleep Care Center
. https://comprehensivesleepcare.com/

Understanding and Recognizing Insomnia

Anyone who has experienced sleep deprivation for just one day can attest to the harmful effects it can have on the body, as well as on the mind. Inadequate sleep impairs a person's ability to think, handle stress, maintain a healthy immune system, and control emotions. Sleep is the time our bodies recharge and cells undergo a process of renewal and restoration.

Many people disregard prolonged sleeplessness as a normal phase that they may be going through, or as a sign of aging, when in fact, it is one of the many common symptoms of insomnia (inability to fall asleep or maintain sleep).

Types of Insomnia

Insomnia may be characterized as primary or secondary, which refers to the cause of the disorder. Primary insomnia is not due to a specific, underlying medication condition. It is its own disorder and may be lifelong or triggered by events or factors that disrupt the sleep routine. Secondary insomnia has an underlying cause, and is a symptom or side effect of something else. It is the most common type of insomnia.

Insomnia may be acute or chronic, based on the length of time it lasts, and the frequency with which it occurs. Acute insomnia is short-term and can last a single night or several weeks. It can also come and go, with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems. In contrast to acute insomnia, chronic insomnia describes long-term sleep disturbances that occur several nights a week for more than a month. Approximately 10-15% of adults suffer from chronic insomnia.

Primary or acute insomnia may be caused by

Significant life stress

Emotional or physical discomfort

Environmental factors, such as noise, light, extreme temperature

Medications

Jet lag or change in work schedule

Secondary or chronic insomnia may result from

Depression or anxiety

Chronic pain

Gastrointestinal problems

Sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome

Stroke

Alzheimer's disease

Menopause

Insomnia and other sleep disorders can increase a person's risk and severity of hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. In addition, sleep deprivation may cause lower work/school performance, weight gain and obesity, as well as a poor immune system.

If you think you have insomnia, talk to your health care provider. Acute insomnia may not require treatment. However, chronic insomnia necessitates treatment for any underlying condition or health problem, and may indicate the need for behavior sleep therapy.

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