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The treatment for insomnia

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. Insomnia is defined as complexity in falling asleep or staying asleep, resulting from poor sleep length or poor quality of sleep. Insomnia is not a disease, but its symptoms are associated with a variety of medical, psychiatric or sleep disorders.

The treatment of insomnia depends on the cause. Nondrug therapy includes use of control of the stimulation, relaxation therapy, and limiting time in bed to regular sleep hours. Medicines which disrupt sleep should also be considered.
Sedative-hypnotic drugs are not a cure for insomnia, but they can relieve symptoms. Sleeping pills are advised only for a short period of time for those who are suffering from chronic insomnia, while other treatments or behavioral therapies are begun.

The choice of sedatives, hypnotics depends on the type of sleep disorder. If an individual has difficulty in falling asleep, prompt acting, but low dosage drugs can be prescribed. These types of drugs are useful for those who are struggling for several hours to fall asleep. Drugs that have more sustainable actions and antidepressants are useful for those who wake up quickly.

The things which the insomnia patients have to follow are known as measures of sleep hygiene. Avoid taking nap during the day time. Reduce the consumption of alcohol, tea, coffee, or cola drinks, especially in the evening and night time. Avoid smoking prevents the respiratory problems especially in the night time. Take regular exercise, but avoid it before going to bed. Try to enter into a daily routine. Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time each morning. Avoid heavy meals before bedtime. Do not watch television before going to sleep. Light, noise and high temperature can disrupt sleep. The body’s biological clock is particularly sensitive to light. The relaxation therapies can be used to reduce or eliminate tension, stress and anxiety and there by improves sleep.

Other activities that encourage sleep are taking a hot bath, drinking a glass of milk or listening to soothing music. Mentally dealing with the unfinished work of the day is also useful. The first step in treating insomnia concerns diagnosing and treating any particular medical or psychological problems that may contribute insomnia. The key to the treatment of insomnia is to determine the cause and to eliminate it. The causes of insomnia, such as jet lag or stress, do no requires any treatment and goes away on its own. However, there are some cases when treatment is needed. Generally, sleeping pills are prescribed in low doses for a short period of time. They are not recommended for long-term use and should be taken under the close supervision of a doctor.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Insomnia means difficulty of an individual to go to sleep, to carryon the sleep or a combination of both these aspects. Insomnia is a common condition experienced by many people. Insomnia is not calculated in terms of number of hours slept, but it is found whether a person feels refreshed and renewed after his sleep. It is hard to understand that insomnia itself is a symptom of any other disease. Therefore, a person who experiences stress, change in the eating habits or physical condition that can disturb the sleep of an individual or a change in the lifestyle can be affected by insomnia.

In order to determine whether a person is suffering from insomnia or not, it is important to realize some of the symptoms of sleeplessness. The symptoms of insomnia can be experienced in the form of physical, mental and emotional. The health of the body depends on a number of factors. The important factor in maintaining the health of the human body is to get a good sleep. When a person suffers from insomnia the condition interrupt the renewal of the effects which a person gains from a good sleep. As a result, some symptoms of insomnia can include headaches, fatigue, and in some severe cases, can lead to heart problems.

Other symptoms of insomnia may have effects on the mind. When the proper rest is not attained by the body, there may be an adverse effect on the mind’s ability to respond, to think, to react, etc. Other symptoms of insomnia include the effect that a lack of sleep can have on emotions. The absence of a good sleep can cause stress, depression and anxiety. In addition, the symptom of insomnia can cause a change in the mood of an insomniac. These symptoms can cause stress in the day today activities of the person.

Symptoms of insomnia can differ from individual to individual, and people suffering from insomnia might experience a variety of symptoms. People who have insomnia do not start the day refreshed after completing sleep. They will be always tired. They may have difficulty in falling asleep and also to continue their sleep. Sometimes an individual can go to sleep without any problems, but wakes up in the early hours of the morning and will be unable to go back to sleep. This is a common symptom among the elderly and those who suffer from depression.

Sometimes sleep is reversed and the individual has difficulty in keeping awake during the day and takes frequent naps. Elderly people requires only 5-6 hours of sleep to get refreshed. However, these natural changes in sleep of the elderly ones do not mean that they have insomnia. Routine poor quality of sleep due to health problems, the use of medications, and major changes in life can lead to chronic sleep problems such as depression, anxiety disorder, low appetite etc.

Secondary insomnia

Secondary insomnia is nothing but difficulty in sleep because of any reasons such as a bad health condition like asthma, cancer, arthritis, mental depression, pain; heartburn; drugs which they intake; or things such as alcohol.
The most common type of insomnia is the Secondary insomnia. More than 80 percent of people who are suffering from insomnia are supposed to have secondary insomnia. The term secondary means that insomnia is a symptom or a side effect of any another disease. Some of the problems which can cause secondary insomnia include anxiety, mental depression, heart and lung diseases, pain or drugs which disturb or delay the sleep as a side effect. Consuming coffee alcohol, tobacco etc before going to the bed can disturb or delay the sleep. Another disorder of sleep, such as the agitated leg syndrome; a poor atmosphere for sleep; or a change in the routine of sleep can also cause secondary insomnia.

Secondary insomnia differs from primary insomnia as it results from the biological or psychiatric disorders. These can include systemic diseases, anxiety, chronic pain or mental depression. The treatment of Secondary insomnia will be effective only when the treatment is made by addressing the fundamental cause of insomnia before treating the symptoms of insomnia.

Secondary insomnia differs from primary insomnia because a specific state can be identified as a cause for the sleeping disorder and should be diagnosed by a doctor. Secondary insomnia is often much more complex and can be caused by a wide variety of various causes. A common cause of secondary insomnia is an emotive disorder such as depression, anxiety, or the post-traumatic disorder of stress. Other emotive disorders causing secondary insomnia are symptoms of Parkinson’s diseases and Alzheimer.

Secondary insomnia is depicted by the poor sleep which is precipitated or worsened by another physical or mental disorder. Secondary insomnia is often associated with other symptoms such as chronic pain. In fact, the reciprocal nature of the sleep and the pain were identified a long time before but it was not studied carefully.

The treatment for secondary insomnia is generally suggested in a primary state and it is treated separately only if it is serious or it does not get cured with the treatment which is given in the primary stage. The sleep disturbances have developed in the patients having cancer and also chronic pain, and the various medical problems.

Chronic secondary insomnia is related to another mental disorder, different form of sleeping disorder, a neurological disease, a medical state, or as a side effect of drug. Disturbances of sleep were also described in the pregnancy and during the menopause. In the patients having secondary insomnia the fundamental disorder must be treated initially. The secondary insomnia can be cured without any treatment if the cause can be found and eliminated. Better practices of sleep and changes of life style often help to relieve insomnia. It is better to consult a doctor to obtain a better result for the insomnia and to find out the exact cause of sleeping disorder.

Primary insomnia

Primary insomnia is a sleeping disorder which is not caused by physical or mental disorder. It is sleeplessness caused by a psychological reason rather than a medical or environmental reason. It is the complexity in falling asleep or frequent awakening without any reason. The main reason for primary insomnia is the continuous stress over a long period of time. After a long period of sleepless nights the problem of insomnia may automatically persists even though the stress is reduced. Primary insomnia can also be caused by neurological anomalies of the sleep center. The lack of sleep can alternatively lead to poor concentration, irritability, decreased mood and frustration during the day.

The criteria for a diagnosis of primary insomnia include a difficulty falling asleep and remaining asleep for a period of not less than one month. The disturbance in sleep causes the distress or affecting significant functions such as social, professional, or other important and does not appear exclusively during another mental or medical disorder or the use of alcohol, medicines or other substances.

Before primary insomnia can be diagnosed, the inspector must pay attention very to exclude the “secondary” causes mental or from medical examination which could be at the base of insomnia. The worst contraveners can spout out are regulation or drugs not-regulation employed to induce the sleep; these drugs lose their effectiveness typically and can produce an effect of rebound after some uses, and can be very causing a dependence.

The diagnostic criteria for primary insomnia are difficulty in sleeping or maintaining it or no restorative sleep for a period of at least 1 month. The sleep disturbance causes the distress or affecting significant functions in the field of social, professional, or other important fields of operation. The sleep disturbance does not happen exclusively during the course of narcolepsy the breathe-related sleep disorder and circadian rhythm, or the parasomnia. The disturbance does not occur during any mental disorder. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects or a general medical state.

The treatment often comprises of relieving and adheres to a predetermined cycle of sleep. The person sets a timetable for sleep and does not let the sleep to occur at any other hour. Treatment includes stress management, relaxation therapy, acupuncture, meditation, aromatherapy, reconditioning, and the sleep restriction techniques. The treatment includes going to bed at the same time every night. Avoid daytime napping. Avoid consuming caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine and eliminate the conditioned anxiety that comes with trying to sleep by reassuring yourself that you will sleep or distracting yourself. Eat at regular times and avoid heavy meals before going to bed. Exercise regularly in the morning. Primary insomnia can be treated naturally without taking any sleeping tablets or any other medicines. Sometimes doctors may prescribe sleeping pills to restore the sleep. But it is not the right solution for insomnia.

Polysomnograms

Polysomnograms is a kind of analytic sleep study. Doctors may inquire a patient in order to determine what happens during his sleep. The tests are being conducted in a sleep laboratory. Patients are recommended to avoid naps, alcohol and coffee on the day of Polysomnograms.
It records the patient’s heart rate, respiration, and brain waves while he sleeps. It also monitors his eye and leg movements, as well as muscle tension. The flow of air in the nose and mouth is recorded. A sensor that clips on a finger monitors the amount of oxygen in the blood. The sensors are placed on the patient’s face, head, chest and legs. They send minute electrical signals to a computer.

The information is being collected from all tracks and fed into a computer and it outputs in the form of a series of waveform tracks that allow the technician to view different waveforms, assign a score for the test, and assist in the process of diagnosis. Typically, a Polysomnograms ends in the early morning and patients can return to their daily routine.

The signals show that when you are in asleep and when you are awake. The brain waves and eye-motion detectors display when the person is in sleep. This means the rapid eye movement sleep. It is a stage of sleep where the eyes and contracted brain waves are very active. This is also the stage of sleep when a person has most of his dreams.

Breathing monitors indicate how many times the patient stops breathing. They can also detect low air flow and minor changes in the level of oxygen. A clip will also be placed on the finger to record the changes in the level of oxygen in the blood. The video monitors the color of your blood. As the blood loses oxygen, it turns from red to blue.

Breathing monitors indicate how many times you stop breathing. They can also note the low airflow and minor changes in the level of oxygen. The leg sensors show both minor and major movements of movements that occur during the night. An excerpt will also be placed on the finger to take note of changes in the level of oxygen in your blood. The video monitors the color of your blood. As the blood loses oxygen, it turns from red to blue.

A person will not feel any pain during the polysomnogram. The sensors are placed gently on the skin and it is attached to a computer. The patient may let free to read books or watch television until his normal bedtime. A low light video camera allows a technician to note you from a room next door. In most cases, a person need not have to sleep for full eight hours to find the cause of the problem. The sensors will be removed and it will be removed in the morning. Then the person is allowed to go to home. He may be tired if he didn’t sleep well at night. Otherwise, he can return to his normal activities.

A Polysomnogram is often used to detect any sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea and to set the correct levels of positive airway pressure in patients with sleep-related breathing disorders. It is used along with a multiple sleep latency test to check whether if a person has narcolepsy and also to look for certain parasomnias, sleep related behaviors that can be violent or could be harmful to the patient or others. A person might have a sleep study if he is already being treated for a sleep disorder but it is not working effectively. The sleep study can help the doctor to know why the treatment is not working efficiently.

Parasomnias

Parasomnias means the strange behaviors that occur during the sleep. Many unconscious and unremembered behaviors can occur during the sleep, especially among children than in adults. Before falling asleep, almost all people rarely experience brief, involuntary jerking of the arms or the whole body. Sometimes, the legs may also shake. Some people experience hallucinations or sleep paralysis when they just fall asleep or awaken. People may tighten or grind their teeth or have nightmares. Sleep, night terrors and banging the head are most common in children. Generally, children do not remember these things when they wake up.

Parasomnias can be caused by a number of factors. Biological factors, mental depression and stress are some of the most common factors that can cause parasomnias. Parasomnias tend to be more common in children than adults.

Parasomnia activate one or more physiological systems during the sleep and wake cycle at an inappropriate time. The causes of certain types of parasomnias such as grinding teeth, talking while in sleep, are fairly well-known, but the causes of the remaining are unknown.

Parasomnias can be divided into two groups, primary parasomnias and secondary parasomnias. Primary parasomnias relates to sleep disorders while the secondary parasomnias are disorders related to other organ which occur during the sleep.

Primary Parasomnias are marked by the instantaneous occurrence of the two elements sleep and awake. Parasomnias primary are categorized according to the stage of sleep in which they occur such as rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement. Secondary parasomnias are disorders related to the body organs that may take place during sleep. Secondary parasomnias can be fairly common, but can be misunderstood, misdiagnosed or ignored in clinical practice.
The types of Parasomnias include Nightmares, Sleep Behavior Disorder, Sleep Bruxism (teeth grinding), Nocturnal Leg Cramps, Sleep Paralysis, Sleep Terrors Sleep Enuresis (bedwetting), Sleep Talking and Sleepwalking.

Psychiatric and Medical disorders and stress can precipitate or worsen parasomnias. A careful study of psychosocial stresses, alcohol or drugs, and symptoms of depression must be obtained. In addition to this a detailed examination of Mental Status should be performed. Counseling may be helpful for psychological disorders that lead to insomnia and relaxation training techniques may also be helpful.

Fix a regular bedtime and one should not go to bed when he feels awake. Use imagery, creative and relaxation techniques to keep the mind from unrest thoughts while in bed. Do not stay in bed for long periods of time while awake. Relax the mind by reading books, taking a bath or listening to soothing music before going to bed.

Certain types of parasomnias resolve themselves on their own after a period of time. If the parasomnia worsens, or appears to interfere with the sleep and thereby affecting the normal daily activities, then a visit to the doctor is recommended. A number of treatments are available for parasomnias. These include changes in behavior, changes in lifestyle, exercise and medication. A doctor can diagnose and treat the disease appropriately.

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Natural methods to cure Insomnia

A person who suffers from sleeplessness and wakes up frequently at night and in the early morning is the one who suffers from the sleeping disorder known as insomnia. Insomnia is a condition in which a person is not getting enough sleep. The person when awake at night will remain tired and drowsy during the day time and it may affect his work. The causes of insomnia are stress; change in lifestyle and the usage of drugs.

Sleeping pills is not a suitable medication for insomnia because it causes side effects. Patients who use sleeping pills may suffer from side effects such as blurred vision, dizziness and abdominal problems. Many others were affected by sustainable impact, such as memory disorders, drug addiction, and in some cases, the insomnia gets worsened after regular intake of sleep medicines.

Some of the natural methods to cure insomnia are following a positive eating and sleeping schedule. Insomniac patients should limit their consumption of coffee, tea that contains caffeine, chocolate, soft drinks etc. Caffeine is a stimulant that triggers insomnia. Insomnia is often caused by too much stress. Doing the exercise in the evening makes the blood to circulate in our brain. It makes us feel calm and stress-free. Do not exercise before going to bed. The bedroom should be favorable to sleep. Noise from the streets, music set at a very high volume, uncomfortable lighting in the bed room should be avoided. Reading books or magazines will induce sleep instead of watching television. Television improves attention, which makes a person awake.

Meditation techniques such as yoga can engage a person in a calm state of mind. Listening to soft classical music and can also help. The restless legs syndrome and the period limb movements during sleep can cause insomnia. Taking 300 mg of magnesium in the night continuously for four to six weeks can solve insomnia.

Changing the diet of a person is effective in the prevention and curing of insomnia. Doctors suggest foods which are rich in carbohydrates which help to induce sleep. Researches have shown that carbohydrates increase the amount of serotonin produced by the body. Serotonin is a chemical messenger or neurotransmitter that influences the brain. This chemical reduces anxiety, which in turn creates sleep. Consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist will help in the resolution of insomnia. The sleep disorder is usually caused by stress. A psychologist or psychiatrist can give expert advice on how to deal with insomnia.

Another way to control insomnia includes taking a bath in hot water before going to bed. This will moderate the temperature of the body and relax the muscles. This helps a person to fall asleep and sleep throughout the night. There are things such as lifestyle change can also lead to insomnia. Relaxation therapy for insomnia includes reading a book that does not make a lot of stimulation and excitement and listening to soothing music for 30 minutes before bedtime. Some of the herbal remedies such as chamomile, black grapes catnip, valerian and lavender are very natural treatments for insomnia. Most herbs can be brewed as drinking tea individually or mixed. They are perfect for reassuring the nerves.

Insomnia during pregnancy

Majority of the women get affected by insomnia during pregnancy with chronic intermittent types. It is estimated that most of the women may suffer from insomnia during pregnancy. A few may not experience this problem during pregnancy, while majority of the pregnant women may experience temporary pregnancy insomnia near the end of the pregnancy.

A pregnant women may suffer from pregnancy insomnia because of pregnancy induced pains and distress. A woman may experience some troubles in sleeping simply because of a protruding stomach which makes sleeping uncomfortable in all positions. Pregnancy insomnia is more commonly experienced as the swollen uterus presses against the body parts and organs and creates pressure in some parts. This results in common pregnancy complaints like heartburn, nausea, frequent urination and body aches  . Fetal movement and psychological anxieties may also leads to pregnancy insomnia.

Insomnia during pregnancy can be triggered by a number of things. This consists of anxiety, heartburn; unusual dreams back pain that occur frequently, hormonal changes, and the inability to get relaxed due to stress on the protruding stomach. This helps to identify the cause of the problem and treat it efficiently.

There are many ways to control pregnancy insomnia. One such method includes sleeping in side ways rather than lying on the back. Avoid sleeping on the back to avoid pressure on the diaphragm and bladder. Drink plenty of water in the morning, and reduce the fluid intake before bed time to avoid frequent urination. Perform exercises to reduce painful leg cramps. Add comfortable pillows on the bed. Take a hot bath and massage before going to sleep. Drinking milk or hot water with honey before sleeping will induce sleep. Check whether the room temperature is comfortable or not and whether the room is having proper ventilation. Listening to music or reading books will induce sleep. Avoid acidic or spicy foods to avoid heartburns. Practice breathing techniques such as deep relaxation method to avoid insomnia.

The most important thing to control pregnancy insomnia includes how to get relaxed. This is the main factor in sleep deprivation, and it is often caused by anxiety and stress. There are many things which lead to a comfortable sleep and it is also necessary to be aware of the dangers of not getting quality sleep. The insomnia during pregnancy will not affect the health of the baby.

To relieve stress, a majority of women consider meditation and yoga. Another method is to take a hot bath before going to bed which helps to alleviate the problem. A calm and peaceful environment helps to relieve from insomnia during pregnancy. As there are many ways to solve the problem, any one of the options can be selected. Insomnia during pregnancy is normal and it is something that many women have to fight. Using simple home remedies can save a lot of time and money.

Insomnia and Menopause

Insomnia is a common disorder during menopause. Insomnia means the inability to sleep at night. Women in menopause often awaken in the early morning of the day and they find much difficulty in getting back to sleep. Women in menopause and pre-menopause periods have the greater possibility of experiencing the symptoms of chronic insomnia such as night sweats, hot flashes, anxiety, fatigue, headaches and depression.

Menopause insomnia can manifest itself in a number of ways such as difficulty in sleeping, waking up frequently throughout the night etc. Insomnia makes a person feeling tired and drained.

For women who were all undergoing menopause, insomnia is also recognized by another common symptom known as night sweats. The other side of menopause, insomnia includes difficulty in falling asleep and awakening two to four times. What makes that even worse is that the woman lying awake for half an hour each time, trying desperately to return to sleep. Several times, the reason for sleeplessness is due to the inability of the body to maintain a constant temperature, which is cased by the changes and fluctuations in the levels of estrogen and progesterone.

Losing sleep during the critical years of a middle-aged woman can be frustrating. Menopause insomnia is inevitable, which slows down the woman’s reproductive capacity. Menopause insomnia is caused by many factors, but it can be treated or keep in control with the help of proper medication, diet, and sleep habits.

Hormonal changes can also cause sleep disturbances, and may result in menopause insomnia. To avoid the discomfort of not being able to sleep at night, the doctors may suggest hormone replacement therapy to balance the declining levels of estrogen in the body. Lower estrogen can result in reduced levels of serotonin, the hormone that controls the sleep.

Menopause insomnia can be controlled by taking some measures such as exercising for about half an hour in the early morning, and it is not advised to do it before bedtime. Stimulants such as tea, chocolate, coffee, cigarettes, sweets etc should be minimized or at least it should be avoided it three or four hours before bedtime, because stimulants can keep you awake. Avoid taking alcoholic beverages before going to bed.

A glass of wine may also help to sleep well. The treatment of menopause insomnia includes hormone replacement therapy. Sleep time habits that are useful such as keeping the room temperature always cool, hot baths, relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation, soft music, using the bed only for sleeping etc should be practiced. Mild aerobic exercise in the early evening and the consumption of foods which are rich in tryptophan, such as milk, bananas, figs, dates and tuna aid are good measures to control menopause insomnia. When the level of hormones reaches a certain balanced level the problem will sort itself.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a medical state characterized by the incapacity of the patient to sleep for a reasonable period of time. The lack of sleep can be hazardous because the person who suffers from insomnia is exhausted throughout the day and can lead to bad memory and infertility. The sleep is essential for the body to recover and refresh.

The common symptoms include irregular sleep, waking up before early morning, frequently waking up at night and also find it difficult to go back to sleep or experiencing as tired after a 7-8 hours sleep at night. The direct results of this condition are that the patients will seem tired and somnolent, and leads to further problems such as lack of concentration or clear thinking, and very often, behave depressed and irritable. Insomnia is a curable disease and the only important thing to diagnose the exact cause of insomnia.

Insomnia can strike anyone at any time, especially for a person who has a work of high pressure, or job which requires much effort. When the body obtains enough rest, a person can remain more concentrated on his work. The lack of sleep results in slow or delayed actions. A person who also suffers from insomnia has also the risk of malfunctioning of the immune system of the body. A healthy body needs at least eight hours of sleep at night.

Insomnia is classified in to transient, acute and chronic. Transient insomnia will lasts for one night little weeks and then everything will be normal. Sleeplessness caused by insomnia due to anxiety or jet lag can be grouped under transient insomnia. If such insomnia occurs on several occasions, then this condition is indicated under the name intermittent.

Acute insomnia lasts from three weeks to maximum six months, but the patient does not feel any symptoms after that. If insomnia occurs during at least three nights per week and if this continues above one month or more, then it is called as chronic insomnia. It is the most serious form of insomnia one can obtain.

Insomnia can be primary or secondary. Primary insomnia is caused naturally and it is not due to any health hazards. Secondary insomnia is as a result of certain medical problem such as arthritis cancer, asthma, and fear due to any problem, stress, drugs, or a poor environment of sleep in the room. Some other causes of insomnia include the sleep apnea, mania, parasomnia, hypomania, gastro esophageal etc. It can also be a symptom of depression or hyper-thyroidsm.

Insomnia is a horrible disorder which can be distressing to those who suffer from it. With the improvement in medical science this disorder can be eliminated. With the help of proper medicines, those who suffer from insomnia can carry out their lives relaxed and healthy. The treatment also includes the diagnosing of exact cause of insomnia. Some times the doctors can prescribe some sleeping tablets to retain the sleep, but such a methodology is not recommended for longer periods. Acupuncture, meditation, relaxation therapy, aromatherapy, reconditioning, and of the techniques of sleep restriction are also invariably suggested for insomnia, but its effectiveness can change from person to person.