Insomnia Project

Insomnia

Orla Wilson

Insomnia Also known as sleeplessness

A sleep disorder where people have trouble sleeping. They may have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep as long as desired. Insomnia is typically followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, irritability, and a depressed mood.

Medical Causes for Insomnia There are many medical conditions (some mild and others more serious) that can lead to insomnia. In some cases, a medical condition itself causes insomnia, while in other cases, symptoms of the condition cause discomfort that can make it difficult for a person to sleep. For example: ● ● ● ●

Nasal/sinus allergies Gastrointestinal problems such as reflux Endocrine problems such as hyperthyroidism Arthritis

● Asthma ● Neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease ● Chronic pain ● Low back pain

Symptoms of Insomnia Most adults have had some trouble sleeping because they feel worried or nervous, but for some it's a pattern that interferes with sleep on a regular basis. The most common and obvious symptom of insomnia is that you cannot sleep, but other consequences of this disorder include: ● ● ● ● ●

Tension Getting caught up in thoughts about past events Excessive worrying about future events Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities A general feeling of being revved up or overstimulated

These include:

Increased risk for medical conditions

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Stroke asthma attacks Seizures weak immune system sensitivity to pain Inflammation Obesity diabetes mellitus high blood pressure heart disease

Increased risk for mental health disorders

These include: ● Depression ● Anxiety ● Confusion and frustration

Insomnia can affect your:

Increased risk for accidents

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performance at work or school sex drive Memory Judgement

The immediate concern is daytime sleepiness. A lack of energy can cause feelings of anxiety, depression, or irritation. Not only can it affect your performance at work or school, but too little sleep may also increase your risk for car accidents.

Shortened life expectancy

An analysis of 16 studies that covered over 1 million participants and 112,566 deaths looked at the correlation between sleep duration and mortality. They found that sleeping less increased risk for death by 12 percent, compared to those who slept seven to eight hours per night. A more recent study looked at the effects of persistent insomnia and mortality over 38 years. They found that those with persistent insomnia had a 97 percent increased risk of death.

Medical Treatments for Insomnia There are many different types of sleep aids for insomnia, including over-the-counter (nonprescription) and prescription medications. Major classes of prescription insomnia medications include benzodiazepine hypnotics, nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics, and melatonin receptor agonists.

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