Can;t Get Any Sleep? Dealing With Insomnia

Sleeplessness is a problem suffered by millions of people worldwide. So if you've been tossing and turning night after night, asking yourself why you "can't get no sleep", you are not alone.

Inability to sleep is known is insomnia. It is a very common problem, but only a few people seek proper medical treatment. Generally speaking, most people don't take sleeping disorders very seriously. They believe that not being able to sleep is a problem that they can handle on their own.

They end up trying to tough it out for weeks or months, perhaps trying some over-the-counter remedies from time to time. Their sleep deficit continues to build up and sleep deprivation increases their irritability and anxiety. Finally, when they can't take it any longer, they go to their doctor and practically demand a prescription for sleeping pills.

This predictable behavior provides profits to the pharmaceutical industry the rate of several billion dollars every year. Although people may think that they have fixed the problem, they're actually causing harm to their bodies. The drug themselves to sleep every night and then spend half of the next day struggling to wake up.

Regular, long-term use of sleeping medications can have a negative effect on your sleep cycle. In essence, your body forgets how to fall asleep naturally. You begin to rely upon the pill and truly believe that you can't get to sleep without it. If you try to stop taking sleeping pills, your insomnia will return with full force.

The problem with treating insomnia by taking prescription sleep medications is that it doesn't provide a cure. Insomnia is actually a symptom. It is your body's way of naturally informing you that something is wrong. Either there is a physical problem that needs to be addressed, or you have some lifestyle choices that need to be changed. If you're struggling through a period where you can't get no sleep, your first step is to figure out why?

Once you know why you have insomnia, you should have a good idea how to treat it. If there's a physical problem, then you can deal with that. If there are choices you're making that cause your sleeplessness, then you can start a new bedtime routine. If you still need help falling asleep, there are many natural remedies that work without the harmful side effects of prescription medications.

Wondering why you can't get no sleep? Don't ignore the problem and don't throw sleeping pills at the problem. Instead, find out more about insomnia, what could be causing it and how you can cure it naturally.

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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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The Most Common Types of Can't Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are disorders that interrupt a person's normal sleep patterns. In order for a sleep disorder to be classified as such, it must take place on a more or less regular basis. Occasional or rare sleep disruptions do not constitute as sleep disorders. Some sleep disorders cause problems with mental and emotional functioning while others manifest themselves in physical ways.

Some of the most common sleep disorders include bruxism, delayed sleep phase syndrome (PSPS), hypopnea syndrome, behavioral insomnia, jet lag (or desynchronosis), narcolepsy, night terror (or sleep terror disorder, also referred to by its scientific name which is Pavor nocturnus), parasomnias, periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) and rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD).

Other types of sleep disorders include restless legs syndrome (RLS), shift work sleep disorder (SWSD), sleep apnea, sleep paralysis, sleepwalking (also known as somnambulism) and snoring. Sleep experts break down sleep disorders into three categories. These categories include:

Dysomnias Parasomnias - Medical or Psychiatric Conditions 

# Dysomnias...

Dysomnias take in a vast array of sleep disorders that are connected to either insomnia or hypersomnolence. Three subcategories of dysomnias are intrinsic (meaning that the origin comes from within the body), extrinsic (meaning that its origin is related to environmental or a variety of pathological reasons) and thirdly, disturbances related to the circadian rhythm of the body.

Examples of dysomnias include insomnia, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, hypersomnia, recurrent hypersomnia, periodic limb movement disorder, posttraumatic hypersomnia, "healthy" hypersomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, delayed sleep phase syndrome, advanced sleep phase syndrome and non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome.

# Parasomnias...

Parasomnias include sleep disorders such as REM sleep behavior disorder, sleep terror, sleepwalking (also called somnambulism), teeth grinding (or bruxism), sleep enuresis (bed-wetting), sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS) and sleep talking (also referred to as somniloquy).

Psychiatric or Medical Problems

The third and final category of sleep disorders is psychiatric or medical problems that could serve to disrupt regular sleep patterns. Examples include psychoses (such as schizophrenia), mood disorders, anxiety, depression, alcoholism, panic, and sleeping sickness (which can be caused by the Tsetse fly). Please note that snoring is not considered a disorder on its own although it can be the symptom of a greater health problem and it can lead to more serious problems such as sleep apnea.

Factors Involved

There are varieties of factors that can cause a sleep disorder to begin. Lifestyle changes often play a role such as in those who work shift work (shirt work sleep disorder or abbreviated to SWSD). Other problems that can wreck havoc with consistent sleep patterns include pain or problems with the neck, shoulders or back, sciatica, noise in the environment, incontinence, a room that is too cold, too hot, too dark or too light and a variety of drugs, prescription or otherwise. A number of different drugs can affect sleep in its various stages and often taking sleeping pills or sedatives can make problems even worse because it disrupts the normal sleep pattern even more.

If you snore or find yourself extremely tired throughout the day and unable to concentrate on ordinary daily tasks it would be wise to go see your doctor. As well keeping a diary about your sleep habits can work as a helpful tool when it comes to diagnosing a sleep disorder.

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Are you sleeping well?

Are you getting the amount of sleep that your body system need? After a long hectic daily routine our body systems need rest to recover whatever the losses in energy had taken place during the day. And if you are not getting a good night sleep things will go against nature and problems in our health will start happening.

Sometimes we are not able to get sleep and this is the initial stage of insomnia or can't sleep disorder. It may seem a matter of not much importance  but in the later stages of this can't sleep disorder it can really cause big problems.

Basically insomnia is not getting a good sleep. It mainly occurs when there are long spells of wakefulness at night. It is normally believed that the duration of sleep is the main factor that is responsible for this but as a matter of fact the duration does not matter but it is the quality of sleep which matters. If one is sleeping soundly for a few hours that would be better than long hours of interrupted sleep.

Effects of insomnia :

There are many effects and side effects of insomnia but the majors ones are

    * Low mental efficiency
    * Depression
    * Forgetfulness
    * Anger and irritability
    * Lack of proper judgment

Causes for insomnia

The digestive disorder and constipation directly affects our sleep. Apart from this the problem in our respiratory system which takes care of the oxygen intake is also responsible for making us spend sleepless nights. Our relationships which are in trouble, loss of job, financial matters, anxiety, etc also directly affect our sleep and cause insomnia.

Simple cures for insomnia

There are many natural and herbal cures for insomnia but I will list some normal home cures for insomnia here which will definitely help you get rid of insomnia.

Reforms in diet : One of the home cure for insomnia is the changes in your diet which you can easily bring about. Just avoid all types of negative foods like fried food and sweets. Avoid tea or coffee especially at night. Try to take lots of fresh juices and coconut water. This will really help your digestive system. Honey taken with water before going to bed is really soothing to the nerves.

Personal hygiene will also help you out of insomnia. Foot bath with hot water for about 15/20 minutes followed with cold one before going to bed is really helpful. A spinal bath with cold water is also helpful.
Do avoid high pillows as they causes stiffness and tension in the neck muscles and also impede the normal flow of blood to the head area. Nigh clothing should be light and soft.

A common insomnia panic is use of sleeping pills and sedatives which should be completely avoided as the use such cures  for insomnia is really harmful in a long run as these mainly suppress the symptoms and not cure the causes of insomnia.  I hope these simple and natural cures for insomnia will give some relief.

Stay tuned for some more on insomnia.

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