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SummaryWhat is insomnia?Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. If you have it, you may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. As a result, you may get too little sleep or have poor-quality sleep. You may not feel refreshed when you wake up. What are the types of insomnia?Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (ongoing). Acute insomnia is common. Common causes include stress at work, family pressures, or a traumatic event. It usually lasts for days or weeks. Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or longer. Most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary. This means they are the symptom or side effect of some other problem, such as certain medical conditions, medicines, and other sleep disorders. Substances such as caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol can also be a cause. Sometimes chronic insomnia is the primary problem. This means that it is not caused by something else. Its cause is not well understood, but long-lasting stress, emotional upset, travel and shift work can be factors. Primary insomnia usually lasts more than one month. Who is at risk for insomnia?Insomnia is common. It affects women more often than men. You can get it at any age, but older adults are more likely to have it. You are also at higher risk of insomnia if you:
What are the symptoms of insomnia?Symptoms of insomnia include:
What other problems can insomnia cause?Insomnia can cause daytime sleepiness and a lack of energy. It also can make you feel anxious, depressed, or irritable. You may have trouble focusing on tasks, paying attention, learning, and remembering. Insomnia also can cause other serious problems. For example, it could make you may feel drowsy while driving. This could cause you get into a car accident. How is insomnia diagnosed?To diagnose insomnia, your health care provider:
What are the treatments for insomnia?Treatments include lifestyle changes, counseling, and medicines:
If your insomnia is the symptom or side effect of another problem, it's important to treat that problem (if possible). NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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What are the 3 types of insomnia?Insomnia is most often classified by duration: Transient insomnia - Less than one month. Short-term insomnia – Between one and six months. Chronic insomnia – More than six months.
What does it mean by insomnia?Insomnia means you regularly have problems sleeping. It usually gets better by changing your sleeping habits.
What is transient or shortTransient insomnia is a type of insomnia that does not last very long. In fact, it tends only last a few days or possibly a week. This type of insomnia is treated much differently than other types as the causes are often entirely different.
Why is it so hard for me to fall asleep and stay asleep?In some cases, insomnia is caused by a medical condition such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or chronic pain, or by a mental health disorder such as depression. Treatment for one of these underlying conditions may be necessary for insomnia to get better.
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