Insomnia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

Insomnia

The busy modern life leaves us wanting for so much more. A little bit of sleep is the sacrifice most of us are willing to make to achieve our goals. What starts as a desperate ploy to get as much work done in a day as possible can quite quickly turn into a severe problem.

Nowadays, it’s hard to find someone who is getting the recommended amount of sleep. Many have jobs that require them to stay up late or wake up early in the morning. The constant fight against the clock to get the work done and get some quality sleep is why one-third of all the adults in the United States report having some sleeping disorder or insomnia.

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is among the most prevalent sleeping disorder. Characterized by lack of sleep or inability to sleep for long, this disorder can make a person tired and unable to perform their work efficiently. Those having insomnia don’t feel refreshed even after sleeping for the whole night.

The Americal Psychiatric Association or APA states that between six to ten percent of all the USA adults experience severe enough symptoms to get diagnosed with insomnia.

Doctors make a clinical diagnosis of this disorder based on the following factors:

For how long the person is experiencing sleep difficulties: 

Usually, people with insomnia find it hard to get proper sleep at least three nights a week for three months before getting diagnosed.

How disruptive the symptoms are for the person:

Insomnia symptoms can create significant disruption in a person’s life and can cause distress.

What Are The Causes Of Insomnia?

Our way of living and modern life keeps us surrounded by things that can result in a person developing sleeping problems. The primary contributor to insomnia is stress.

People can be worried about their job, finances, family, relationships, and all this worrying cumulate into a disruption of normal functioning. The mind stays busy, focused on the possibility of an upcoming disaster, which results in sleepless nights.

Factors that also increase the chances of getting insomnia are as follows:

• Traumatic event
• Physical pain
• Jet lag
• Changes in sleep habits
• Sleeping at new places

What Are The Symptoms Of Insomnia?

Insomnia can manifest in many forms. Some might have difficulty falling asleep while others can sleep alright but have a hard time remain asleep. People with insomnia experience the following symptoms:

• Trouble falling asleep
• Inability to stay asleep throughout the night
• Waking up earlier than usual
• Daytime sleepiness
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability

These symptoms do not inherently mean that you have insomnia. We can attribute most of these as a sign of some lifestyle changes. For instance, starting a new job at odd hours will affect your sleeping pattern.

The problem arises when these symptoms ligers on for more than a month without a discernible cause. It becomes necessary to consult an expert when you get in a situation where you always have trouble getting a good night’s sleep without any reasonable explanation.

What Are The Different Types Of Insomnia?

The experts classified insomnia into different categories based on their causes and how they affect a person’s sleep. The following are the types of insomnia:

Acute insomnia

These are brief episodes of sleep trouble usually caused by a significant life event. The contributor to acute insomnia can include a job change, receiving bad news, travel, losing a loved one, etc. The symptoms of this type of insomnia generally resolve without requiring treatment. 

Chronic insomni

It is a long-running problem that makes a person unable to sleep for three nights a week for three months or longer. Those with chronic insomnia can find it hard to fall or stay asleep during the night. Most of the people diagnosed with chronic insomnia tend to have a long history of sleep problems.

Comorbid insomnia

It is the type of sleeping disorder that occurs due to an underlying physical or mental health problem. People with anxiety and depression are among the most affected group with comorbid insomnia. Specific chronic pains can also result in this disorder.

Onset insomnia

People with onset insomnia find it hard to fall asleep at the beginning of the night. They tend to go to bed and stay awake for extended periods before they start to feel sleepy.

Maintenance insomnia

Maintenance insomnia makes a person wake up in the middle of the night for no reason. People with this condition also struggle to return to sleep after waking up. 

What Are The Differences Between Sleep Deprivation And Insomnia?

Most people don’t realize, but insomnia and sleep deprivation are two different things. If you have insomnia, you have a sleep disorder that might require medical treatment. People with sleep deprivation need not seek medical help. Instead, they can ease their problem by changing their habits and sleep patterns.

Insomnia is the inability to sleep despite having no external obstacles that prevent you from sleeping. People with insomnia can lay in bed awake all night without knowing why they can’t fall asleep. Nobody chooses insomnia. It is something that happens due to factors not under the control of a person.

Sleep deprivation, in contrast, is a complete loss or reduction in sleep because of external factors. Some examples of these factors can be an overnight shift, college students studying all night for a test, etc. A person becomes sleep deprived if they continue to get less than eight hours of sleep for long periods.

Unlike insomnia, people choose, either consciously or subconsciously, to deprive themselves of sleep. It is essential to consider that these people do not enjoy getting less sleep; they do it because of their commitments. However, sleep-deprived people develop harmful sleeping patterns that, similar to people with insomnia, make them feel tired all the time.

All you need to know about prescription sleeping pills

Sleeping pills can help you fall asleep, especially if you face sleep disruption due to travel, stress, or any illness. While these tablets are suitable for achieving rest, you should not depend on them as a long term solution.

You should meet with your healthcare provider and discuss the possible treatment plans if you continually have issues related to the quality or quantity of sleep that you are getting. Usually, the treatment for a sleep disorder depends on the causes behind the condition. Often an underlying cause like a medical problem can cause the issue.

For people with chronic sleeping problems, a doctor might recommend cognitive behavioral therapy and regular exercise. Following a sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine and things that might cause stress, can significantly help improve sleeping problems.

There are plenty of prescription sleeping medications available in the market for people who don’t have chronic insomnia and want to get a good night’s sleep.

The different types of sleeping pills

The three categories of prescription pills are:

• Medicines that help you fall asleep quickly
• Pills that keep you sleeping for longer
• Tablets that can do both

Doctors usually go though various things to determine which one will work best for your condition. Some of the things that might help them decide include:

• Ask you about your sleeping habits to get a better picture of the sleeping patterns.
• Order tests to figure out any underlying issue responsible for causing sleep problems.
• Prescribe a sleeping medicine for a short period to analyze its benefits and side effects on your body.
• Discuss how often and when you should take medication and which form of the drug will be right for you.
• Make you try different prescription drugs if the first one doesn’t have the desired effects after the full treatment period.
• Help you figure out whether a generic version of the drug is available, which is usually less expensive than the brand name variant.

You should also check if your insurance provider covers the specific medicine you want to use before starting the treatment. Many insurance providers put restrictions on which sleeping pills they include in the plan, and they might also ask you to try alternatives to combat insomnia symptoms.

Side effects of sleeping tablets

Try taking to your doctor about the possible adverse effects of the specific sleeping pills they are prescribing before starting the treatment. The following are common side effects that sleeping medications might have on your body.

• Headache
• Daytime memory problems
• Decline in performance
• Severe allergic reaction
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Chronic drowsiness
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Antidepressants with a sedating effect

Some drugs approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for easing depression can also help treat insomnia symptoms if used in lower doses. While it is not an ideal way to treat sleeping problems, it can be helpful when your sleeping disorder results from underlying conditions like depression or anxiety. These pills will work on both the issues at the same time and provide you lasting relief.
Antidepressants with sedating effects include:

• Trazodone
• Amitriptyline
• Mirtazapine (Remeron)

Side effects of antidepressants with sedating effects:

You can expect to see the following adverse effects if you use antidepressants with sedating effects to combat your sleeping problems.

• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Headache
• Nausea
• Irregular heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Memory and performance problems
• Weight gain
• Extreme drowsiness

What to know before taking sleeping pills?

If all other attempts fail, sleeping pills might be your only option to get a sufficient and good night’s sleep. We listed some instructions that you might find helpful if you have insomnia (sleeping disorder) and plan to use sleeping medication.

Get a medical evaluation:

Visit a doctor for a thorough medical examination before you start taking these drugs. Usually, the doctors can find the causes behind your sleeping problem and provide a better solution. You should also talk about the medications you are using with your doctor if the insomnia is persistent after taking the drugs for more than a couple of weeks.

Read the medication guide:

Reading the prescription label will help you understand how to consume sleeping pills. If you follow the medication guide carefully, you will also avoid the adverse effects of the drug. Consult a doctor if you have trouble understanding any part of the drug guide. 

Take it immediately before going to bed:

Sleeping pills work best if you consume them when you are about to go to bed. Taking these drugs before bedtime will unnecessarily increase your risk of hurting yourself by decreasing your awareness of what you are doing. Try to complete all the tasks before consuming sleeping pills. 

Use it only when you have ample time to rest:

Only take your prescription sleeping pill if you have adequate time to sleep. Usually, the effects of these medicines last for 7-8 hours. If you don’t get the required sleep, you might end up feeling tired and unable to perform the following day.

Some medicines help manage the middle of the night awakenings and only require you rest for 4-5 hours. You can take these drugs if you don’t have 7-8 hours to rest. 

Safety consideration to keep in mind while using sleeping pills

All the sleeping pills available in the market, whether prescription or over the counter, are FDA approved and are safe to use, but it doesn’t mean that these drugs can cause no harm. Several sleep medications and antidepressants can cause problems if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or old. These medicines might increase the risk of falls and injury in older people. Doctors generally prescribe lower doses of these drugs for older people to minimize the risk of adverse effects.

You might also find yourself short of options while looking for sleeping pills if you have medical conditions, namely – kidney disease, low blood pressure, seizures, heart problems, etc. These problems might change how your body will respond to sleep medicines and increase the risk of harmful effects.

Various prescription and over the counter drugs can also interact with sleep medications, so you should take proper precautions while using these medicines to decrease the chances of facing adverse effects.

20 Surprising Insomnia Statistics

20 Surprising Insomnia Statistics

Having a good night’s sleep is the most refreshing thing there is. It not only serves as a reset button for our mind but also boost our mental and physical health. Getting adequate sleep is crucial for a person to stay healthy, and it also positively affects memory and learning capabilities.

Despite the importance of sound sleep, many people are not sleeping well at night. Insomnia is one of the most prevalent conditions hampering the sleeping patterns. Millions of people have some degree of this sleeping disorder and are unable to get the sleep they require.

If you are also the person who lay awake at nights looking at the ceiling, these statistics might fascinate you and make you realize that you are not alone.

1. Almost 40 million Americans have chronic insomnia

It is quickly becoming the nation’s major health problem. People from all backgrounds experience this sleeping disorder. No matter if you are a restaurant worker or a big name celebrity, you can get this condition. The number of affected people is not only high but is also rising.

2. Between 30% and 35% of adults in the country have experienced some symptoms of insomnia

A third of the country’s population has had some problems falling asleep or staying asleep during the night.

3. By experts’ estimate, there will be more than 130 million acute insomnia cases by the year 2023

The researchers at GlobalData estimated based on the available data and current trends in the seven countries: US, Germany, Spain, Italy, UK, France, and Japan, that the global number of insomnia patients will rise above 130 million in the coming years.

4. People with children are more likely to suffer from insomnia than those without

According to the data, around 66% of parents experience some insomnia symptoms, compared to 54% of people without children. Sleeping pattern changes brought on by parenthood are a significant contributor to this statistic. Usually, parents have to stay late at night and early in the morning, which disrupt their sleeping behavior and cause them to develop insomnia symptoms.

5. Nearly 78% of women experience insomnia during pregnancy.

The imbalance of hormones during pregnancy can result in difficulty in sleeping. Another reason might be the difficulty of balancing work and family responsibilities during such times, which might cause stress. Other conditions often accompany pregnancy, such as anxiety, heartburn, and other mental issues, which can also contribute to the development of insomnia symptoms. 

6. 1 in 4 Americans develops insomnia each year

While this number might look enormous, only about 25% of these people will ever develop chronic insomnia. For a vast majority of them, the symptoms will subside within a few weeks.

7. About one-third of the population have some symptoms of insomnia

Approximately 30 percent of the people report having experienced some degree of insomnia. This number shows that insomnia is a widespread problem with severe consequences. It is essential to seek treatment for this problem. 

8. Women have twice the risk of developing insomnia

Women experience hormonal imbalances more often than men, and they are also more likely to get mood disorders. These factors can drastically change their sleeping pattern and cause stress, which lead to the development of insomnia.

9. 44% of older people experience symptoms of insomnia at least a few times a week

Older people are more prone to getting insomnia symptoms than any other age group. While the changes in sleep patterns are a part of aging, insomnia can also result from a medical condition.

10. Almost 75% of people with depression also have symptoms of insomnia

Researchers found a connection between depression and sleeping disorders. While people with depression can develop insomnia, but this can also go the other way around, where people suffering from insomnia symptoms might end up depressed.

11. 23% of the adults with anxiety issues also report trouble sleeping

Anxiety and stress make it hard for the brain to relax. Due to hyperactivity in the brain, a person might find it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep for longer. The lack of sleep in anxiety patients can result in insomnia. 

12. Binge drinking can increase the risk of insomnia in older people

A study examining the relationship between insomnia and binge drinking symptoms concluded that people aged 55 and older are 84% more likely to develop insomnia symptoms if they drink more than two days a week.

13. Insomnia increases the risk of development of Type 2 diabetes by up to 28%

The effects of lack of sleep on a person’s health can lead to various severe diseases, and type 2 diabetes is only one of them. Statistics from across the world points in the same direction when it comes to finding a link between different medical conditions and insomnia. It is crucial to address insomnia in early-stage and find the right treatment.

14. Insomnia increases the risk of developing a panic disorder by 20 times

Getting adequate sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy mental state. Studies indicate that people experiencing insomnia symptoms can be more susceptible to anxiety; they are more prone to panic disorder and other types of anxiety disorders.

15. Insomnia is responsible or 2.5 times more car crashes due to tiredness

People with insomnia are unable to sleep properly, and even if they get enough sleep, they still might feel tired or nauseous when in the morning, when people in this state drive, the chances of crash increased significantly. Therefore, treating insomnia at the right time can prevent several car accidents and save many lives.

16. 4% of the American adults use some prescription sleeping aid every month

The sleeping disorder is so widespread that about 4% of the population relies on some sleeping aid. There is a direct relationship between the age of a person and their reliance on sleeping pills. People with higher education are also more likely to use these prescription sleeping aid than less educated people. There is also a gender-wise disparity in the use of sleeping pills, as women take more prescription sleeping aid than men.

17. Sleeping pills significantly increase the risk of early death

According to the studies, people who consume at least 18 sleeping pills in a year have three times the risk of dying early than those who don’t take sleeping pills. Researchers looked at the data from around the world to conclude that consuming a higher dosage of hypnotic drugs for sleeping problems increase the risk of early death.

18. Insomnia symptoms account for a direct cost of over $13 billion a year

When we consider how many people suffer from this condition and how costly the treatment can get, we can get to wrap our head around the $13 billion annual costs of insomnia that include prescription medications, physician visits, and other medical procedures.

19. Insomnia patients are four times more likely to experience hallucinations

When you don’t get proper sleep, the mind starts to play tricks. It becomes hard for the brain to process things around you, and it will experience the things that are not present there. Hallucinations are among the more severe symptoms of insomnia, which people don’t experience more often and occur only in rare cases.

20. Insomnia can result in indirect damages of about $77 to $92 billion annually

Direct medical expenses are not the only cost incurred by insomnia. The cost of a sleeping disorder can be a result of factors such as motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, work absences, reduced productivity, etc.

Conclusion

A lack of sleep can have various adverse effects on our quality of life. The mental and physical wellbeing of a person depends on the quality of sleep they are getting. While sleeping disorders are widespread, they are not untreatable. 

There are various treatments a person can go through to take back the control of their sleep and their life. It is essential to identify insomnia in the early stage and get the proper treatment before it can turn that can cause lasting damage. 

The information presented here shows the problem that insomnia poses and its potential causes. With this information, it is clear that we need to understand our sleeping issues better and get them treated in time to prevent them from growing any further.