Insomnia Symptoms
Insomnia also called agrypnia, is a lack of sleep that occurs on a regular or frequent basis, often for no apparent reason.
It is not unusual to have sleep troubles from time to time. But, if you feel that you do not get enough sleep or satisfying sleep, you may have this sleep disorder. Symptoms of insomnia may include:
- Inability to get enough sleep at night
- Waking up too early
- Waking up feeling tired, even after a full night's sleep
- Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
- Daytime irritability
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking up during the night
Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as sleepiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. A person with insomnia may also have another sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome.
Insomnia is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. The amount of sleep a person needs varies. While most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night, some people do well with less, and some need more.
About 60 million Americans each year suffer from insomnia, which can lead to serious sleep deficits and problems. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.
Types of insomnia and what causes them
A person can have primary or secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem. Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition (like depression, heartburn, cancer, asthma, arthritis), pain, medication they are taking, or a substance they are using (like alcohol). Insomnia can vary in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. Insomnia can be short-term (called acute insomnia) or last a long time (called chronic insomnia). It can also come and go (or be intermittent), with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems. Acute (short-term) insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. It is often caused by emotional or physical discomfort, and can be related to a single specific event. Causes of acute insomnia can include:
- significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one,
moving)
- illness
- environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with
sleep
- things that throw off a normal sleep schedule (like jet lag or switching from a day to night
shift)
Chronic (long-term) insomnia is when a person has insomnia at least 3 nights a week for 1 month or longer. It can be caused by many things and often occurs along with other health problems.
Common causes of chronic insomnia are depression, chronic stress, and pain or discomfort at night.
Sleeplessness may be temporary or chronic. You don't necessarily have to live with sleepless nights. Some simple changes in your daily routine and habits may result in better sleep. If insomnia has been severely interfering with your daytime functioning for a month or longer, see your doctor to determine what might be the cause of your sleep problem and how it might be treated.
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