Insomnia

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Insomnia is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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Summary

What 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

Have a lot of stress
Are depressed or have other emotional distress, such as divorce or death of a spouse
Have a lower income
Work at night or have frequent major shifts in your work hours
Travel long distances with time changes
Have an inactive lifestyle
Are African American; research shows that African Americans take longer to fall asleep, don't sleep as well, and have more sleep-related breathing problems than whites.

What are the symptoms of insomnia?

Symptoms of insomnia include:

Lying awake for a long time before you fall asleep
Sleeping for only short periods
Being awake for much of the night
Feeling as if you haven't slept at all
Waking up too early

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

Takes your medical history
Asks for your sleep history. Your provider will ask you for details about your sleep habits.
Does a physical exam, to rule out other medical problems that might cause insomnia
May recommend a sleep study. A sleep study measures how well you sleep and how your body responds to sleep problems.

What are the treatments for insomnia?

Treatments include lifestyle changes, counseling, and medicines:

Lifestyle changes, including good sleep habits, often help relieve acute (short-term) insomnia. These changes might make it easier for you to fall asleep and stay asleep.
A type of counseling called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help relieve the anxiety linked to chronic (ongoing) insomnia
Several medicines also can help relieve your insomnia and allow you to re-establish a regular sleep schedule

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