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What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition that causes difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep. The two main types of insomnia include primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia occurs when a person cannot sleep as a result of suffering from the condition itself. Secondary insomnia is when a person in unable to sleep due to an outside factor, such as asthma, alcohol, pain medications, cancer, heartburn, or numerous other conditions

Within the categories of primary and secondary insomnia there are also subcategories, such as chronic and acute insomnia, which allow for a more detailed diagnosis. Where acute insomnia lasts a week or less, chronic insomnia may last from anywhere between two weeks to a month.

What causes insomnia?

The causes of insomnia vary based on the type of insomnia a patient suffers from(is it primary or secondary? chronic or acute?). The main causes of acute insomnia are stress (i.e. too much work, death of a loved one, loss of job), illness, discomfort (emotional or physical), environmental factors such as temperature, light or noise, interruption of normal sleep schedule (i.e. jet lag is a prime examples), even certain medications. Causes of chronic insomnia include depression and/or anxiety, long term stress, or any condition that causes pain at night.

Symptoms that may be caused by insomnia include:

  • difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
  • waking constantly during the night
  • waking up too early and being tired despite having a full night’s rest

How is insomnia treated?

Acute insomnia usually does not need treatment, but sleeping pills may help a patient get to sleep and stay asleep. Chronic insomnia is usually treated by first identifying the cause. If it is caused by a medical condition, the patient should receive treatment for that condition before first attempting to tackle the insomnia. If the cause is a stress-related, the patient may need to seek counseling or medications to combat anxiety. If the insomnia is persistent and previous treatments have not worked, your doctor may suggest behavioral therapy.