Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person either has difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Insomniac person can suffer with difficulty falling asleep or wake up too early and not be able to asleep again. Person to person sleep hours varies but approximately most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep at night.

Insomnia might be short term (acute) or long term (chronic). Short term insomnia lasts for days or weeks and usually caused due to stress or a traumatic event. Long term insomnia lasts for months or more.

TYPES:

Apart from acute and chronic there are more types of insomnia, such as-

Primary- Insomnia which has no clear cause and link with any other medical issues.

Secondary- Insomnia that is caused by other medical conditions like asthma, depression, arthritis, etc.

Onset- When person has difficulty falling asleep.

Maintenance- Trouble in staying asleep or wake up early and cannot be able to sleep again.

SYMTPOMS:

Difficulty falling asleep at night

Waking up too early and cannot be able to get back to sleep again

Daytime sleepiness

Reduce ability to concentrate

Irritability, depression or anxiety

Tiredness.

CAUSES:

Insomnia can be caused by various physical and psychological factors. But some common causes are-

Stress

Work schedule

Poor sleep habits

Too little physical activity in a day

Mental health issues

Or relation with some other medical conditions.

PREVENTIONS:

Insomnia can be prevented by-

Good sleep habits

Stay active rest of the day

Avoid short naps

Avoid caffeine before bedtime

Meditate

If on medications then consult your healthcare professional whether they are causing insomnia or not.

 

References:

https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia-symptoms-and-causes

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167