Do You Think You May Be Suffering From Insomnia and Want to Know How to Stop it?

Do you have difficulty sleeping or falling asleep? Once you fall asleep are you having trouble staying asleep? Are you waking up several times during the night? If you have answered yes to either of these questions than you are most probably one of the more than 60 million adults who suffer from the sleep disorder known as insomnia.

Insomnia is a symptom not a diagnosis or disease. Wikipedia, defines insomnia as "difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both and may be due to inadequate quality or quantity of sleep."

Some symptoms of insomnia include:

o Having difficulty falling asleep

o Having difficulty returning to sleep

o Waking up several times during the night

o Having trouble concentrating

o Irritable the following day

o Waking up too early

o Feeling sleepy during the day

There are three types of insomnia which have been identified:

1. Transient - which can last anywhere from a few days to weeks.

2. Acute - characterized as lasting between three weeks to six months.

3. Chronic - has been known to last for years at a time.

The National Institute of Health recommends that adults should get an average of 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. There are many health benefits to getting the proper amount of sleep that your body needs.

Although the recommended amount is 7 to 8 hours it is important that you be in tune to your own body needs and get the proper amount you need to function. I have heard many say that 7 or 8 is too much for them and they function better with 6 or 7 hours of sleep. So, bottom line is listen to your individual body and treat it well and it will respond accordingly.

Sleep is essential for life and the human body. It is important in helping the body function in matters such as concentration, memory formation and also with repairing the damage of body cells during the day. Conversely, chronic lack of sleep increases the body's risk for developing problems such as diabetes, obesity, infections and cardiovascular diseases.

Thus, it is extremely important that insomnia be treated as soon as possible. There are a number of treatments available. For further information on Insomnia and the various treatments available click here!

For further information on Insomnia and the various treatments available Click Here!

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The Endless List of Sleep Disorders

The list of sleep disorders never seems to end...read some more on can't sleep disorder. 

Sleep disorders can be classified and grouped in several different categories. Here in this post we look at some of the most common forms of sleep disorders.

Insomnia; this is a sleeping disorder in which the sufferer finds it extremely difficult to fall asleep and to stay asleep. People who suffer from this sleeping disorder find it difficult to sleep. Often because their conscious mind fails to switch off no matter how exhausted and desperate they are in need of sleep.

Other factors that contribute to a poor night sleep are medical, psychiatric and neurological disorders that range from pain to depression to anxiety attacks. These can rob you of your sleep, health and energy.

Although there are some sleep disorders which we have no control such as restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea, insomnia often develops from poor sleep habits and psychological stressors. Poor sleep habits include consuming excessive caffeine, staying up late at night and also going to bed at irregular times.

Environmental, emotional and physical changes are common causes of temporary sleeplessness; a change of job, moving home, a loss of a family member, financial difficulties and even jet lag can disrupt your sleep cycle and throw your natural circadian rhythm off course. People who work night shifts and work while the rest of the world is asleep are most likely to suffer sleeplessness. People who have biological clocks which are not in sync with the environment run a high risk of developing delayed sleep-phase syndrome.

Another factor that can disrupt sleep is snoring. It is all the more difficult for the room-mate or spouse who has to bear it all night long. Narcolepsy is another sleep disorder; in this case the victim may fall asleep suddenly and unexpectedly. People suffering from this condition often experience severe anxiety due to the unpredictable nature of their sleep.

Parasomnias are sleep disorders that cause unusual behavior while one is asleep. What makes this sleep disorder so unusual and also dangerous is the fact that the person engages in such activities in which one would engage in a fully awakened state of mind. These activities include walking about the house and even eating!

Indeed there are far more life threatening and unusual sleep disorders than insomnia, however this doesn't stop the fact that more than a third of all people suffer from this frustrating condition.

Sleep disorders usually have their roots in a medical problem or a prescription drug taken to treat a disease. The common diseases leading to sleep disorders are cardiovascular, neurological, mental, kidney, and gastroesopheal disorders as well as arthritis.

1. Cardiovascular Disorders

The most common cardiovascular disorders that cause sleep disorders are coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Both these disorders can cause obstructive sleep apnea.

Congestive heart failure is characterized by the inability of the heart to pump sufficient blood to satisfy the requirements of the body. As a result of this, blood accumulates in the veins leading to the kidneys, and the resulting edema inflicts a lot of damage to the organs of the body.
Coronary heart disease is characterized by the accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries that carry blood to the heart, leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis.

2. Endocrine Disorders

Sleep disorders are also the result of endocrine malfunction such as thyroid disorder and diabetes. Diabetes affects the way in which the body stores and uses carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. People who do not manage and control their diabetic condition often suffer from restless leg syndrome.

The hormones released by the thyroid gland regulates the energy levels of the body. A person suffering from hyperthyroidism sweats profusely at night and is unable to enjoy a peaceful night's rest.

3. Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, strokes, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease are also responsible for sleep disorders.

Parkinson's disease affects the central nervous system. It's symptoms include difficulties in movement, tremors, unstable posture, slow movements, stiffness in the muscles, and difficulties in walking. Parkinson's disease causes sleep disorders such as sleep onset insomnia and REM sleep behavior disorder.
Alzheimer's disease impairs the intellectual functions of the brain and causes dementia. It also causes a sleep disorder called fragmentation.

Epilepsy affects the normal electrical functions of the brain and leads to short, sudden changes in it that are recurrent. People suffering from epilepsy are more likely to suffer from insomnia. Usually, stroke is associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

4. Respiratory Disorders

Those suffering from a respiratory disorder such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma usually suffer from an accompanying sleep disorder such as insomnia and sleep fragmentation.

The air passages of those suffering from asthma are inflamed. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also known as COPD, is a group of respiratory disorders that cause untold damage to the lungs and lead to difficulties in breathing.

5. Mental Disorders

People suffering from psychological disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, depression, and schizophrenia also suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep fragmentation.

6. GERD

In gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, the juices in the stomach flow back into the esophagus, and this leads to sleep fragmentation.

7. Kidney Disorders

In most kidney disorders, the kidneys are unable to filter the waste substances from the blood. They are also unable to maintain a proper balance between salt and water. Such a kidney disorder could lead to insomnia and restless leg syndrome.

8. Arthritis

The intense pain suffered by arthritis patients drives away sleep, resulting in insomnia.

If a sleep disorder is due to a medical condition, the medical condition should be treated first, not the sleep disorder. When the primary cause of a sleep disorder is successfully treated, it disappears, and the patient finds that he or she can enjoy good sleep.

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Sleep Disorders - Which one do you suffer from?

Onset Insomnia has been studied by medical professionals in much details and each one has tried to classify them according to what they thought was the best. But for a common person it becomes a bit confusing to know what type of onset insomnia he is suffering from.

Sleep Disorders - a few more types:

Different types of sleep disorders keep people awake and prevent proper sleep. Sleep disorders range from the common, self-correcting issues to physical and neurological disorders. Sleep disorders prevent people from resting properly whether it's getting to sleep, staying asleep or cycling through the stages of sleep. Sleep is vital to the body's ability to heal, to process information, to digest, to relax and to function. While a person can stay awake for days on end, they will begin to suffer the debilitating effects of sleep deprivation such as a breakdown in cognitive functions, weight gain and a weakened immune system. Sleep disorders are about more than missing one night of sleep here or there, sleep disorders indicate a persistent inability to rest.

Apnea Sleep Disorders

Apnea sleep disorders are related directly to respiratory issues. Hypopnea syndrome indicates very shallow or slow breathing while sleeping. The shallow breathing can sound like wheezing or mild gasping and reduces the level of oxygen saturation in the blood. The heart must pump harder to get enough oxygen. Obstructive sleep apnea is typically caused by a physical defect or weakness in the soft tissue of the throat. While sleeping, a person with OSA will periodically cease breathing due to the soft tissue collapsing and blocking the airway. They will experience an arousal to waking, gasping and choking for air. The arousal episodes occur several times during the night although the patient may only remember one in five of the waking episodes. Obstructive sleep apnea may be corrected by surgery. Central sleep apnea is caused by a neurological problem. The brain fails to send the right messages to the muscles controlling your breathing. Causes of central sleep apnea are related to neurological diseases, stroke, surgery and spinal damage.

Primary snoring differs from the snoring associated with apnea disorders. Most people snore at one point or another. Physical causes of snoring include a deviated septum, hypertrophy of the adenoids, swollen tonsils, tongue enlargement and a small oropharynx. Colds and allergies also cause snoring. Snoring alone is not indicative of a sleep disorder, but snoring can keep other people awake.

Movement Disorders

Movement disorders interrupt sleep patterns and the ability of the body to achieve the different stages sleep because physically they are moving or acting. The physical action may wake them up or prevent them from sleeping. The most well known movement sleep disorder is restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS causes an irresistible urge to shift or move the legs. People who experience RLS complain of a creepy, crawly or pins and needles sensation. RLS patients often suffer from periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) which causes sudden jerking of the arms or legs while sleeping. Occasionally a person's leg or arm will twitch as their muscles relax, but PLMD causes persistent and involuntary motions that can jerk them awake. Bruxism is the grinding or clenching of the teeth while a person is sleeping.

The disorder can cause dental problems, headaches and general soreness of the jaw. Somnambulism is another movement disorder that is neurological in nature. Sleepwalking can cause a person to get up and engage in day to day activities without any knowledge of what they are doing. Sleepwalkers experience unexplained injuries and physical tiredness related to not resting properly. The last sleep movement disorder involves a lack of movement or sleep paralysis. The paralysis affects the physical body temporarily just before falling asleep or upon waking. A person with sleep paralysis usually experiences visual, tactile or auditory hallucinations and are usually suffering from narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a disorder where a person falls asleep suddenly and inexplicable, during normal waking hours.

Other Sleep Disorders

Other sleep disorders that affect people include rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD), delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), night terrors, parasomnia and situational circadian rhythm sleep disorder. RBD causes patients to act out their dramatic or violent dreams while sleeping. For example, a person dreaming about punching a monster in a bad dream may physically lash out with a first. Night terrors are different from nightmares in that they cause severe, abrupt arousal from sleep experience terror. A child who experiences night terrors may wake screaming and unable to accept comfort.

Many patients who experience night terrors do not remember them upon waking, but do experience daytime sleepiness and stress associated with the physical terror response. Night terrors are considered a parasomnia as is sleep walking and talking during sleep. DSPS involves an abnormal circadian rhythm. The natural circadian rhythm involves waking in daylight hours and sleeping at night. A person with DSPS experiences difficulty sleeping at night and being awake during the day. A natural recourse for DSPS patients is to work off hours in order to facilitate their career with their waking hours. Situational circadian rhythm sleep disorder is different in that it is experienced by individuals with a normal circadian rhythm who are impacted by external, environmental factors. A person working third shift regularly who struggles to stay awake when they want to sleep.

Identifying Sleep Disorders

If a person suspects they are suffering from a sleep disorder, it is important to bring the information to the attention of a physician. Everyone experiences an occasional sleepless night, but persistent daytime sleepiness, difficulty sleeping or snoring may indicate a sleep disorder.

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