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INSOMNIA
- Insomnia is a
common sleep problem, affecting almost everyone at some point in their
lives. People with insomnia report that they can't fall asleep or
they cannot stay asleep. This leads to a feeling of unsatisfactory
sleep, followed by daytime weariness and loss of productivity, as
well as irritability and decreased enjoyment of family and social
life.
- Many people have
occasional bouts of insomnia, often related to a temporarily stressful
situation. For some people, however, poor-quality sleep is a recurring
and even a lifelong problem. Up to 12% of people have insomnia on
a regular basis.
- Getting a good
night's sleep, one that leaves you refreshed in the morning, means
something different to a child than it does to a senior citizen. Most
infants sleep from 16 to 20 hours a day, while most adults sleep from
7 to 8 hours. Most seniors sleep around 6 1/2 hours a day.1
Diagnosis
and treatment
- What makes people
with insomnia different from people who generally sleep fewer hours
or have a different sleep disorder is the quality of their day. Chronic
insomnia results in such disturbed sleep that there will be considerable
loss of quality in how a person feels and is able to perform during
the day. Sometimes people worry about the amount of sleep that they
get most nights because they think people their age need a certain
number of hours. It is possible to be a short sleeper or a restless
sleeper and yet get the amount of sleep you need. If you awaken refreshed
with energy and are able to conduct your needed tasks during the day,
then you are probably getting adequate sleep.
- You can help
your doctor know what part your sleep patterns are playing in your
overall physical condition by reporting on your sleep history and
by keeping a sleep diary for a set period of time. This will also
help your doctor investigate possible causes of your sleeplessness.
Thyroid testing, hormonal testing for menopause, and sleep studies
are examples of tests that may help you and your doctor find medical
problems that may cause the insomnia. Once you and your doctor know
what might be causing your insomnia, treatment for an underlying condition
can be considered.
- If medical conditions
are either under control or are being treated, other treatments are
available to change sleep patterns. Sleep hygiene and behavior therapy
are proving to be very helpful in changing the quality of sleep. When
necessary, sleep-inducing medicines are useful for short-term relief.
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