Tips to Treat Insomnia

There could be no two opinions about the fact that insomnia is the most common sleep disorder that is experienced by people. Unfortunately, most people experience it at some point or other in their life. A few interesting facts about the syndrome would therefore be of common interest to all.

Multiple Reasons

Multiple reasons can contribute to development of insomnia. Most potent reasons of insomnia are -

• Stress of any type;
• Mental or physical illness;
• Adverse living situations;
• Genetic tradition of insomnia;
• Conditions of sleeping;
• Working by shifts;
• Unhygienic diets; and
• Unplanned exercise.

The last one may sound bizarre as exercise is usually considered to be conducive for health condition. However, exercise enthusiasts should know that unplanned exercises could cause as much harm as any other reasons that bring up physical or mental ailments including insomnia.

Gender Considerations

Gender plays a major role in insomnia. Over 40% women in the world suffer from insomnia of various types including mild, moderate, medium, and acute insomnia. In contrast; about 30% of men suffer from sleeplessness or insomnia. Major reasons for women suffering more is the change of hormonal balances from time to time in women that they experience throughout their lives.

Sleep Essential for Survival

Essentiality of sleep has been scientifically established.

• Human being cannot survive without adequate sleep.
• People who remain devoid of sleep for long may suffer from various adverse conditions like hallucinations, blurred vision, slurred speeches, as well as paranoia.
• Requirements of people for sleep will vary depending on their physical structure, age, and health conditions. Adults require 7-8 hours per day, teenagers need 9 hours and babies require 16 hours.
• Characteristics of insomnia are the problems faced in the daytime by people due to sleeplessness in the night. Some of the effects are inability to concentrate, drowsiness, irritability, and acute headache.

Insomnia Classifications

Broadly speaking, insomnia can be classified into three types.

• Transient insomnia stays for a few days only.
• Short term insomnia that people might suffer for a couple of weeks or less.
• Chronic insomnia that lasts longer and usually over three week’s period.

 Major Victims of Insomnia

As already stated, women suffer more from insomnia. However, the babies and children can also suffer from the syndrome due to various reasons like –

• Poor health conditions;
• Adversities in the environment at home; and
• Social and psychological factors like lack of adequate affection and support.

People can also suffer from insomnia as part of bereavement or excessive consumption of sleeping pills that disrupt the normal sleep cycles. Most of the times however, insomnia is the result of some other health conditions disturbing the natural health and sleep cycles.

Blind People Greatest Victim

Over 80% of the people who are totally blind suffer from insomnia. Reason is that brain uses the clues derived from light passing through the retina to assess the time of sleep requirements of the body, the process is not feasible in case of totally blind people and most of them suffer from acute insomnia.

More than young people, elderly people suffer from insomnia and inactive people are more victims in comparison to people who are active in life.