Insomnia is the body's way of saying that something isn't right.
Things that cause insomnia include stress, too much caffeine, depression, changes in work shifts, and pain from medical problems, such as arthritis. Lots of people have insomnia and those who have insomnia may not be able to fall asleep. People may wake up during the night and not be able to fall back asleep, or they may wake up too early in the morning.
Is insomnia a serious problem?
It's not really a serious problem for your health, but it can make you feel tired, depressed and irritable. This can also make it hard to concentrate during the day.
How much sleep do I need?
Most adults need about 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. You're getting enough sleep if you don't feel sleepy during the day. You just need to sleep about the same throughout adulthood. Though, sleep patterns may change with age. For instance, older people may sleep less at night and take naps during the day.
What can my doctor do to find out why I'm not sleeping?
Your family doctor may ask you and your bed partner some questions about your sleep habits (such as when you go to bed and when you get up), any medicine you take, and the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink. Your family doctor may also ask if you smoke.
Additional questions may include how long you've been having insomnia, if you have any pain (such as from arthritis), and if you snore while you sleep. The doctor may also ask about events or problems in your life that may be upsetting you and making it hard for you to sleep.
What is a sleep diary?
If the cause of your insomnia is not clear, your doctor may suggest that you fill out a sleep diary.
This diary will help you keep track of when you go to bed, how long you lie in bed before falling asleep, how often you wake during the night, when you get up in the morning and how well you sleep.
The sleep diary may help you and your doctor identify patterns and conditions that may be affecting your sleep.
How is insomnia treated?
The treatment of insomnia can be simple. Often, when the problem that's causing the insomnia is taken care of, the insomnia goes away.
The solution is to find out what's causing the insomnia so that it can be dealt with directly. Only making a few changes in their sleep habits helps many people.
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