Insomnia Facts
A Beginner’s Guide To Insomnia Facts
There are many well-known insomnia facts, and some are not so commonly known. For example, most people have a pretty good idea of what insomnia is. Basically, insomnia is a sleep disorder where the sufferer has trouble falling asleep and or difficulty staying asleep. Periodic bouts of insomnia are common to everyone, but very few people have chronic or long-term insomnia.
Insomnia Facts – Symptoms and Effects
Insomnia is classified as a problem getting adequate rest. It is not defined as insufficient hours of sleep. Insomnia is more about quality than it is about quantity. It is a consistent difficulty falling asleep with frequent sleep disturbances throughout the night.
The most common symptoms of insomnia are the following:
> You cannot fall asleep even though you feel tired.
> You wake up during the night and cannot fall back to sleep.
> You wake up early in the morning before you are fully rested.
> You feel tired, even right after waking up.
Insomnia can have many negative effects, not the least of which is irritability and low mental functioning. Lack of sleep can cause poor memory and will make it difficult to learn and pay attention. Sleep deprivation also leads to difficulty concentrating and a general decrease in mental acuity.
It is estimated that approximately 10 to 15 percent of all adults deal with severe or chronic insomnia. Short-term insomnia is experienced by around 30 to 40 percent of adults each year. Sleep problems seem to increase with age, with almost half of people over the age of 65 experiencing some type of insomnia.
Insomnia Facts – Solutions and Treatments
One of the most common treatments for insomnia is sleep medication, but that is not necessarily the best way to treat this illness. Whether they are prescribed or over-the-counter, sleeping pills are not a long-term cure for insomnia. These drugs merely mask the symptoms for a time, but they do not treat the actual problem.
In many cases, the cause of insomnia is simply too much stress. The best way to treat stress-induced insomnia is by learning how to relax.
There are a number of healthy ways to relax:
> Take a nice, warm bath and add some lavender oil for an even more soothing soak.
> Do breathing exercises or light stretching as part of your bedtime routine.
> Practice muscle relaxation to prepare for sleep. Starting at your toes, first tense the muscles and then totally relax them. Continue this with every muscle group all the way up your body until you reach the top of your head.
> Write in a journal every night before bed to help rid your mind of persistent problems.
> Meditate or pray before going to sleep to ease your mind and end the day in a more peaceful state.