Insomnia - It's Not A Disease!

Introduction

Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. It's common after the loss of a loved one, even years or decades after the death, if they have not gone through the grieving process.

Insomnia can be caused by: Psychoactive drugs or stimulants, including certain medication, herbs, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, MDMA, methamphetamine and modafinil. Hormone shifts such as those that precede menstruation and those during menopause. Psychological problems like fear, stress, anxiety, emotional or mental tension, work problems, financial stress, unsatisfactory sex life. Mental Disorders such as clinical depression, bipolar disorder, general anxiety disorder. Disturbances of the circadian rhythm, such as shift work and jet lag can cause an inability to sleep at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day. Insomnia may be a symptom of magnesium deficiency, or lower magnesium levels.

History

History in these patients frequently reveals excessive daily worries about not being able to fall asleep, evidence of trying too hard to sleep with apprehension if unable to fall asleep, an ability to fall asleep during monotonous pursuits (such as watching TV or reading) and in inappropriate situations (at a lecture or while driving) but not when desired, improvement of sleep in unusual sleep environments, and increased agitation and muscle tension prior to bed. The best way to find the cause for insomnia is by careful history taking.

Symptoms

Chronic insomnia means having symptoms at least 3 nights per week for more than a month. If so, you may find developing a nighttime routine or ritual before you go to bed helpful for overcoming the signs and symptoms. If however, you find that it persists night after night, be sure you call your doctor to schedule an appointment to discuss your symptoms.

Sleep history: Determining the timing of insomnia, the patient's sleep habits (commonly referred to as sleep hygiene), and symptoms of sleep disorders associated with insomnia is important. Patients should be asked about symptoms of other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (eg, snoring, witnessed apneas, gasping) and restless leg syndrome/periodic limb movement disorder (ie, restless feeling in legs on lying down, which improves with movement; rhythmic kicking during the night; very messy sheets in the morning). Neurologic testing may be indicated in patients with signs and symptoms of neurologic disease.

Treatment

Treatment includes: Finding and treating any medical conditions or mental health problems. When people think of treatment they tend to think of sleeping pills, but there are actually non-medical therapy that have not only been shown to be effective, but are possibly even better in the long term than sleeping pills.

Melatonin has proved effective for some insomniacs in regulating the sleep/waking cycle, but lacks definitive data regarding efficacy in the treatment of insomnia. Treatment with oxygen may improve but rarely eliminates the problem. Cannabis has also been suggested as a very effective treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine has included treatment for insomnia. Your doctor will work with you to create goals for treatment that include headache and prevention.

Conclusion

Insomnia is too little or poor-quality sleep caused by one or more of the following: Trouble falling asleep, Waking up a lot during the night with trouble returning to sleep, Waking up too early in the morning, Having un-refreshing sleep (not feeling well rested), even after sleeping 7 to 8 hours at night, It can also cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable.

It can be transient (short term) lasting from a single night to a few weeks. It can be mild to severe depending on how often it occurs and for how long. One of the more common sleep problems faced by men, women and children alike. Insomniacs complain of impaired ability to concentrate, poor memory, difficulty coping with minor irritations, and decreased ability to enjoy family and social relationships. Since it is not a disease, no test can diagnose it.The Department of Health and Human Services says approximately 60 million Americans suffer from this sleep disorder each year. If you think you have insomnia, talk to your doctor.

Submitted by Richard H. Ealom Author of this article and the creator of "Free Articles On Diseases: How To Prevent and Cure Them". 93 Disease specific websites with extensive information on Alternative and Orthodox methods and products to increase your understanding of treatment and curing diseases. Please visit

http://rainydrops.com/alternative-orthodox.php








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