What is insomnia?
You’ve probably had nights when you couldn’t fall asleep, no matter how desperately you tried.
When you can't sleep, the ticking of the clock only reminds you of your exhaustion and the endless hours until morning. And perhaps you finally drop off around dawn, only to be jarred awake by the alarm an hour later.
Insomnia means having trouble sleeping at night, staying asleep, or both. It is one of the most common sleep -disorders.- Episodes of insomnia that last a few days at a time are called short-term (acute) insomnia. Ongoing (chronic) insomnia is often diagnosed when you have ongoing problems with sleep. There are many different definitions for chronic insomnia. A commonly accepted one is insomnia that occurs more than 3 nights a week for at least 3 months or that lasts for a month or longer.
Insomnia affects people in different ways. If you suffer from it, you may not be able to go to sleep or you may not be able to stay asleep. You might constantly wake up earlier than you would like, perhaps in the wee hours of the morning, and find yourself unable to go back to sleep.
Women are more likely to have insomnia than men. It's also more common among shift workers, who don't have consistent sleep schedules; people with low incomes; people who have a history of depression; and those who don't get much physical activity.
How is insomnia diagnosed?
You may need to see a sleep medicine specialist to find out what's causing your insomnia. It will be helpful to bring a record of your sleep patterns.
The process of making a diagnosis may include:
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Your health history. Your doctor will consider any health conditions, any medicines you're taking, and stressful life changes that could be causing insomnia.
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Your sleep history. Be prepared to describe your insomnia with details such as how long it's been going on, what you think could be contributing to it, and what your sleep is like, such as whether you can barely get to sleep at all or if you wake up too early.
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Physical exam. The doctor will look for any physical reasons that could be causing sleep problems.
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Sleep study. You may need to sleep overnight in a sleep lab where researchers monitor your sleep.
How is insomnia treated?
You have many options for treatment:
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Medicines to help you get to sleep and stay asleep
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Change in existing medicine if that's what's causing the problem
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Counseling to help relieve stress and other issues bothering you
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Change in lifestyle choices that may interfere with sleep
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Better-sleep bedtime habits, called "sleep hygiene"
The exact course will depend on what your doctor identifies as the possible causes of your insomnia.
Key points about insomnia
Insomnia, the term for having trouble sleeping at night, is one of the most common sleep complaints. About 1 in 3 adults has bouts of insomnia that last a few days at a time. Women are more likely to have insomnia than men.
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Insomnia has many possible causes. You may need to see a sleep medicine specialist to find out what's causing your insomnia.
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Common symptoms of insomnia include impaired work performance, daytime drowsiness or low energy, difficulty paying attention and others.
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Diagnosis may involve a sleep study in which a sleep specialist monitors your sleep.