What is Insomnia? Causes and Treatment

The condition of shortening the sleep time, which affects the general health status and quality of life of the person, is defined as insomnia, or in other words, insomnia. Insomnia, a common type of sleep disorder, causes a person to have difficulty falling asleep. Insomnia, which is characterized by problems such as difficulty staying asleep, waking up earlier than expected, falling asleep again, causes the person to feel sleepy when they wake up.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia does not only reduce a person's energy level, but also impairs mood, health, productivity and quality of life. Although adequate sleep time differs from person to person, in general, adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep. At times, many people go through acute episodes of insomnia that last for days or weeks. This situation, which is mostly caused by stress or a traumatic event, is short-term and temporary. However, some people may experience insomnia for a month or longer.
The underlying cause of this condition, which is defined as chronic insomnia, may be insomnia itself, or it may be related to the medications used, the general health of the person and many other factors. In other words, there are many factors that cause insomnia. In order for existing insomnia to be defined as chronic insomnia, the person must show symptoms of insomnia at least 3 times a week for at least 3 months. Before moving on to the subject of insomnia symptoms, the question “What is insomnia?” It is necessary to answer the question. Insomnia causes a person to feel tired when they wake up.
It leads to deterioration of the coordination of the person during the day. In addition, both the physical and mental health of the person are affected by this situation.
Insomnia is examined in two different types as acute and chronic. Acute insomnia, which develops suddenly and goes away on its own, is a condition that almost everyone can experience throughout their life. In the presence of acute insomnia, the person suffers from insomnia for several days or weeks. can sow. This situation mostly develops depending on the stress level of the person and the traumas experienced during the day. However, some drugs used and the general health of the person can also cause acute insomnia. Chronic insomnia, on the other hand, lasts longer. These people experience insomnia at least 3 times a week for at least 3 months. Insomnia can be caused by physiological and/or environmental factors as well as psychological factors. Before moving on to the causes of insomnia, “What are the symptoms of insomnia?” It is necessary to answer the question.

What are the Symptoms of Insomnia?

Some of the symptoms seen in the presence of insomnia, which is one of the types of sleep disorders, can be listed as follows:

What are the Causes of Insomnia?

Insomnia can be seen only in the form of insomnia without being associated with any other health problem, or it can be caused by many diseases such as asthma, arthritis, depression, heartburn and cancer. can also occur. In addition, drugs and alcohol consumption can also cause insomnia. However, insomnia is mostly caused by events, stress, and habits that disrupt sleep patterns. Some of the common factors that cause chronic insomnia can be listed as follows: In addition, restless legs syndrome can also prevent a person from falling asleep.

  • Sleep Disorders: Some disorders such as sleep apnea, which can cause a person to stop breathing for a certain period of time during sleep, can cause insomnia.
  • Psychological Diseases : Just like many types of psychological diseases that cause anxiety disorders, depression alone can also cause insomnia.
  • Stress: Work, school or Problems and worries encountered in family life can cause one's mind to remain active at night. In addition, traumatic events such as death, injury, divorce or dismissal also increase the stress level of the person. All these stress-related factors can lead to insomnia.
  • Travel: Conditions such as jet lag, especially seen in intercontinental travels, cause disruption of circadian rhythms that provide sleep and wakefulness. Disruption of this order, which can also be defined as the body clock, can lead to insomnia. In addition, working in shifts that change at short intervals can also cause insomnia. Factors such as being active before going to bed, watching TV, spending time on the phone and playing video games also lead to disruption of sleep patterns. Such factors should be avoided before going to sleep, and such activities should be avoided in the bedroom. Fatty, spicy and heavy meals eaten close to bedtime cause discomfort such as heartburn and reflux, making it difficult for a person to fall asleep. It can also cause night awakenings.
  • Drug Usage: As a side effect of some drugs used, a person may develop insomnia problems. Many medications, such as antidepressants, blood pressure medications, asthma medications, and some types of pain relievers, can cause insomnia. In such cases, a physician should be consulted before stopping the use of medication.
  • Using Alcohol, Cigarettes and Caffeine: Consuming tea, coffee and fizzy drinks close to sleep may cause the person to have problems falling asleep. Nicotine, another stimulant, can also cause a person to have trouble sleeping. Alcohol consumption may also prevent the person from sleeping deeply and may cause the person to wake up during the night. The physician takes the history of the disease and performs the physical examination. The habits that cause the person to have sleep problems are questioned. The questionnaire, also known as the insomnia test among the people You may be asked to fill in. In some cases, a sleep diary for several weeks may be requested.
    When the physician deems it necessary, laboratory tests and hospitalization in the sleep center may be required. In the sleep center, the person is controlled visually and audibly throughout the night. In addition, the person's breathing, pulse, eye movements, body movements and brain waves are also examined. In the light of the findings, the person is diagnosed with insomnia.

    How to Treat Insomnia?

    Insomnia treatment is done by improving the underlying focal disease and/or restoring sleep patterns. In some cases, the physician may prescribe medication. In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy can be applied to the person for the treatment of insomnia.
    You can ask the expert team of Grup Florence Nightingale Hospitals about the issues you are wondering about insomnia and treatment methods, and you can ask for suggestions regarding your question. You can use the contact form on our website to reach us.

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