Insomnia

* Insomnia is a common sleep problem, affecting almost everyone at some point in their lives. People with insomnia report that they can't fall asleep or they cannot stay asleep. This leads to a feeling of unsatisfactory sleep, followed by daytime weariness and loss of productivity, as well as irritability and decreased enjoyment of family and social life.

* Many people have occasional bouts of insomnia, often related to a temporarily stressful situation. For some people, however, poor-quality sleep is a recurring and even a lifelong problem. Up to 12% of people have insomnia on a regular basis.

* Getting a good night's sleep, one that leaves you refreshed in the morning, means something different to a child than it does to a senior citizen. Most infants sleep from 16 to 20 hours a day, while most adults sleep from 7 to 8 hours. Most seniors sleep around 6 1/2 hours a day.1

Diagnosis and treatment

* What makes people with insomnia different from people who generally sleep fewer hours or have a different sleep disorder is the quality of their day. Chronic insomnia results in such disturbed sleep that there will be considerable loss of quality in how a person feels and is able to perform during the day. Sometimes people worry about the amount of sleep that they get most nights because they think people their age need a certain number of hours. It is possible to be a short sleeper or a restless sleeper and yet get the amount of sleep you need. If you awaken refreshed with energy and are able to conduct your needed tasks during the day, then you are probably getting adequate sleep.

* You can help your doctor know what part your sleep patterns are playing in your overall physical condition by reporting on your sleep history and by keeping a sleep diary for a set period of time. This will also help your doctor investigate possible causes of your sleeplessness. Thyroid testing, hormonal testing for menopause, and sleep studies are examples of tests that may help you and your doctor find medical problems that may cause the insomnia. Once you and your doctor know what might be causing your insomnia, treatment for an underlying condition can be considered.

* If medical conditions are either under control or are being treated, other treatments are available to change sleep patterns. Sleep hygiene and behavior therapy are proving to be very helpful in changing the quality of sleep. When necessary, sleep-inducing medicines are useful for short-term relief.

insomnia