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Transient Insomnia Can Rob Restful Sleep

Just about everyone suffers from insomnia on occasion and the inability to sleep, or sleep for any length of time, can leave the person feeling unrested, irritable and in some cases unable to think clearly. However, in most the inability to sleep is transient and generally only lasts once or twice week.

The causes of insomnia vary from person to person, but common causes include stress, pain, depression or for unknown reasons. People who travel frequently may suffer what is called jet lag and their circadian clock, an internal mechanism that tells the body it needs rest, may be off causing a loss of sleep. This and short-term anxiety can cause transient insomnia which can last from one night to a few weeks. Acute insomnia can last from a few weeks to six months.

The most serious is acute insomnia, which can cause the loss of sleep every night for at least a month. Medical professionals will attempt to determine the cause for the lack of sleep and cure the underlying cause. An overactive mind or some type of physical pain is generally associated with transient insomnia.

Lack Of Sleep Not Limited To Gender

It has been estimated that at least 60 percent of American suffer from transient insomnia, with up to 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men having trouble sleeping on occasion. The common thought that as a person ages their need for sleep lessens is disregarded by most sleep disorder specialists. They say that across the board Americans get an average of seven hours of sleep each night while doctors recommend seven to 10 hours.

There are some who confuse poor quality sleep, such as sleep apnea, with insomnia, which causes people to have trouble breathing while they sleep. This causes them to wake up numerous times throughout the night and most times they do not know they are awake. All they know is that they are extremely sleepy throughout the day. Sleep specialists can determine this cause and help find a remedy to enable the person to sleep soundly throughout the night.

In very rare cases, a hereditary illness called fatal familial insomnia will cause a person to totally be unable to sleep, usually resulting in death within about two years following onset of the problem. There is no known cure for this ailment, which can easily be passed to subsequent generations.

Filed under insomnia and alcohol, insomnia causes, insomnia cures, sleep apnea and insomnia, facts about insomnia, seroquel and insomnia, insomnia in teenagers, acupuncture and insomnia, meditation to cure insomnia, Insomnia by Mr. Sleepy

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October 25, 2007

Identifying the Cause and Choosing the Right Treatment for Insomnia

With all of the medical advances that have been made over the past hundred years insomnia is still an issue with 10 to 15 percent of all adults and closer to 25 percent of adults who are 65 and older. Other known facts about insomnia include: there are more instances of insomnia in women than men, many people with insomnia also have depression, and insomnia often is worse during the holiday season.

Nobody likes to have to deal with sleep difficulties. They wear you down to the point that everything else becomes a fuzzy blur. The purpose of this article is to familiarize you with insomnia causes and introduce an approach to insomnia treatment that may assist you with your insomnia.

The causes of insomnia vary from person to person but all of the reasons have a main theme behind them, stress levels. As we age, our health often turns for the worst, this can cause stress and worry. During the holidays, we often think of family or friends we miss, our schedules become hectic and we run into deadlines at work as well as with our personal shopping. All of these things increase our stress levels. College students complain of insomnia around semester finals. As women age, their hormone levels change and they experience insomnia. All of these can be caused by stress.

Stress is not the only cause of insomnia. Other causes include; new surroundings, schedule disruptions, noises, dietary changes, low iron levels, disease, and even extreme temperatures. When you start to see a pattern of insomnia take notes of what you have been doing and you will probably be able to identify a pattern change that is causing your insomnia.

After you have discovered your cause, you still need to treat insomnia. Treatment can be as simple as opening a window, turning on a fan, adding or taking away a pillow or even sticking to a schedule. Whatever treatment you choose, for it to be effective, it must address the underlying cause of insomnia. This is why you should keep a sleep journal. A sleep journal will help you to track changes in patterns that you may not have noticed on your own.

Once you have identified the cause and chosen a treatment it may take a couple weeks for your sleep pattern to get back to normal. If you have had a long term problem with insomnia it may take you longer to get a routine set. Use your journal to keep track of changes that you have made and how they effected your sleep patterns. Stick with a schedule for at least a week, and preferably two weeks, before you decide it isn’t working and move on to another change.

Your doctor can help you to find any medical reasons that may contribute to sleepless nights. If you have had insomnia for longer than two weeks, you should discuss any changes in your medical health with a medical professional. . This affects your over all health so please take care of this problem to ensure a healthy, happy life.

Christopher Jay has supplied much more information on treatment for insomnia at Types of Insomnia .com. Let us help you keep your health and well being. Find some answers at Types of Insomnia.com today.

Filed under insomnia cures, insomnia causes, facts about insomnia, Insomnia by Mr. Sleepy

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