Here are some facts about insomnia: many specialists describe insomnia as an acute affliction that prevents people from falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomnia is a rather common problem, affecting about 30% of all adults and approximately 60 million Americans. Insomnia is more common among women and older adults but can occur in people of all ages and all social classes.
Most doctors categorize insomnia in three forms: transient, acute and chronic insomnia.
Transient insomnia can be caused by a number of things including stress, a changing of your environment, noise, temperature changes, and side affects of medication, depression and drug abuse.
Acute insomnia is similar to transient insomnia in that you may have difficulty sleeping or getting back to sleep if you wake up in the middle of the night. It is usually caused by a triggering event such as a death in the family, an upheaval at work, a wedding or another stress-inducing event. This type of insomnia usually disappears when the event is over.
Chronic insomnia can be caused by a serious illness, physical or mental disorders, prolonged depression, the abuse of caffeine or alcohol, sleep apnea, heart failure, shift work or working night shifts, restless leg syndrome and persistent stress. You should also see a doctor if you have chronic insomnia. There may be other things that are affecting your sleep.
Other facts about insomnia are that it is diagnosed by an evaluation of your medical history and sleep history. If you are suffering from insomnia your doctor may ask you to start a “sleep diary,” which is a comprehensive report on your quality of sleep and the amount of sleep you are getting. You may require specialized help if you are suffering from a primary sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
Exercise helps cure insomnia. Many people start an exercise routine by jogging, walking, running or doing some other aerobic activity. Exercise promotes better health and also better eating and sleeping habits.
The bottom line on prescribed medications for insomnia is that they are very addictive. You probably have heard the many horror stories people have told regarding addiction to sleeping pills. Prescription sleeping pills can work but you must use extreme caution.
One alternative to prescribed medications are herbs for anxiety. These all natural remedies usually come in a pill form and are made from herbs, extracts and other ingredients. These ingredients are not addictive and they have been shown to naturally help those suffering from insomnia. Talk to your doctor about herbal remedies and do some research on your own on the internet. Herbal remedies could be the winning alternative.