Insomnia is a sleep disorder, with two variations - acute, lasting from 1 night to a few weeks, and chronic, occurring at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more.
Insomnia can be primary (not linked to other health conditions) or secondary (resulting from health issues, pain, medication, or substance use).
Different forms of insomnia include sleep-onset insomnia (trouble falling asleep), sleep-maintenance insomnia (waking up too early), mixed insomnia (both falling asleep and staying asleep problems), and paradoxical insomnia (misjudging sleep duration).
Causes: stress, environmental factors, changes in sleep schedule, genetic predisposition, mental health issues, medications, pain, and various health conditions.
Risk factors include being female, older age, long-term illness, and mental health concerns, especially for young and middle-aged African Americans.
Common symptoms of insomnia are daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, concentration and memory problems.
To diagnose insomnia, doctors conduct physical exams, review medical and sleep histories, and may suggest keeping a sleep diary or undergoing tests at a sleep center.
For treatment, acute insomnia may not require intervention, but chronic cases necessitate addressing underlying conditions or behavioral therapy. Avoid over-the-counter sleeping pills.
Complications of insomnia include a higher risk of health issues like high blood pressure, obesity, depression
insomnia prevention includes maintaining consistent sleep schedules, avoiding screens before bed, limiting caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol intake, exercising earlier in the day, and practicing relaxation routines before bedtime.