Insomnia
Insomnia is a long-term disorder that makes it impossible to fall asleep or stay asleep after falling asleep, regardless of the means of sleep. During insomnia, you wake up restless, which affects your activities during the day Insomnia can affect your mood and energy levels, as well as your health, performance and quality of life.
Every person needs a different amount of sleep Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep a day
Many people have insomnia at some point, although some people have chronic insomnia Insomnia can be primary or it can be caused by another disease or medication
There is no need to spend the night Small changes in daily habits can help you sleep
Common symptoms of insomnia are:
- Stress Bedtime worries about work, school, health, or family can make it difficult to fall asleep Stressful events, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss, can cause insomnia
- Anxiety Both everyday worries and more serious anxiety disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, can interfere with falling asleep. Anxiety about falling asleep can make it difficult to fall asleep
- Depression During depression, you may sleep too much or be unable to sleep Insomnia also occurs in other mental disorders
- Medical conditions If you have chronic pain, shortness of breath, or frequent urination, you may develop insomnia Diseases linked to insomnia: arthritis, cancer, heart failure, lung disease, gastroesophageal reflux syndrome, overactive thyroid, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease
- Changing the environment and work schedule Traveling and commuting can disrupt the body's circadian rhythm and make it difficult to fall asleep. The circadian rhythm is the biological clock that governs the sleep-wake cycle, metabolism and body temperature.
- Harmful sleeping habits Bad sleep habits include irregular sleep schedules, stimulating activities before bed, an uncomfortable sleep environment, and using the bed for anything other than sleep or sex.
- Medications Many medications can affect sleep These include some antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medications, allergy medications, stimulants, and corticosteroids. Many over-the-counter medications, such as pain relievers, nasal decongestants, and weight loss products, contain caffeine and other stimulants.
- Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol Coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, and other caffeine substitutes are known stimulants Drinking coffee after noon can prevent you from falling asleep Nicotine in tobacco is also a stimulant that causes insomnia Alcohol is a sedative and may help you fall asleep, but it interferes with deep sleep and often causes you to wake up in the middle of your sleep.
- Late evening overeating Snacking before bed is not a problem, but eating too much can make it uncomfortable to lie down and interfere with sleep. Many people also have heartburn and the passage of acid and food from the stomach into the esophagus, which also makes it difficult to fall asleep.
Insomnia and aging Insomnia is more common with age During this time you may develop:
- Sleep changes As you get older, your sleep becomes less deep and you may be awakened by the slightest noise or change in your environment. As you age, your biological clock changes, showing you going to bed earlier and waking up later, although older people often need the same amount of sleep as younger people.
- Load changes You may be less active physically and socially Lack of workload can interfere with sleep Also, when you are less active, you are more likely to fall asleep in the afternoon, which will prevent you from sleeping through the night
- Changes in health Chronic pain, such as arthritis and back problems, depression, anxiety, and stress can interfere with sleep. Older men often have a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) that causes frequent urination at night. In women, periodic hot flashes (hot flashes) during menopause can also interfere with sleep
- Other sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome, also increase with age Sleep apnea causes periodic cessation of breathing during sleep In restless legs syndrome, there is an uncomfortable feeling in the legs and an insatiable desire to move them, which prevents falling asleep.
- More medicines Older people take more medications than younger people, increasing the risk of medication-induced insomnia
Sleep problems can also be found in adolescents and children Some children and adolescents do not fall asleep on time because their biological clocks are advanced At this time, they want to sleep late and wake up late
Symptoms of insomnia are:
- difficulty falling asleep
- waking during the night
- waking up early
- feeling sleepless after waking up
- fatigue and sleepiness during the day
- irritability, depression and anxiety
When to consult a doctor
If insomnia is interfering with your daily activities, consult a doctor to find out the cause of insomnia and ways to treat it If your doctor suspects a sleep disorder, he or she may refer you to a sleep center or special tests.
