Chronic Insomnia

Chronic insomnia is said to be lasting for several weeks, months or even years. This kind of insomnia is more constant compared to the transient insomnia. The patient of this sort of insomnia has very weakening sleep. Unsuccessful treatment of this kind of insomnia results in termed as conditioned insomnia or those that is constant in its occurrence. This type of insomnia has symptoms that will last for longer period of time, usually from 6 months to a year or even longer. Research shows that one in three adults has had trouble falling or staying asleep during the night, or waking up too early in the morning and may lead to irritability, excessive daytime sleepiness, un refreshing sleep, or depression.

Acute insomnia that lasts for a few days or weeks is often caused by stress or excitement and is usually self-limiting. However, if it is debilitating, it can be successfully treated with hypnotics. Importantly, without resolution of the acute insomnia or without proper treatment, it can become conditioned insomnia, a chronic disorder.

Chronic insomnia is more complex than acute transient insomnia, requiring a more directed approach to its identification, etiology and treatment. After establishing the chronicity of the complaint, a differential assessment of chronic insomnia can be made on the basis of whether the patient has difficulty staying asleep as opposed to difficulty falling asleep. Because insomnia is essentially a symptom and not a diagnosis, it is important to try to determine the cause of chronic insomnia and not just reflexively treat the patient with sedative-hypnotic medications. It is important to remember that use of sedative-hypnotics may worsen sleep-disordered breathing such as that associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

Chronic insomnia, that which lasts for months or years, is typically a symptom of an underlying disorder. Conditioned insomnia can begin with any acute insomnia, but persists and worsens because the patient starts to feel apprehensive about falling asleep. Most patients can return to normal sleep patterns after implementing good sleep habits and/or relaxation techniques. In some cases, hypnotics are needed for a short period of time to reduce anxiety and reestablish confidence.

The truth about Insomnia

Since insomnia is not considered as a disorder rather than it is a symptom. Most people who have cured their insomnia have done so by reviewing and experimenting with many different cures. Often, a combination of dietary and lifestyle changes is the most helpful approach. As with many similar health problems, a determined, across-the-board holistic approach to sleeping problems is the most effective.

The insomnia is more prevalent in old people as well as in women where the sleeping pattern changes. Since older people sleep most during the day as compared in the night consequently, they find it really difficult to sleep during the night. Usually, manifestations of insomnia are also good indicators of another problem—the Alzheimer’s disease.

Patients with insomnia and hyper insomnia often need careful evalua­tion to determine the underlying cause of their sleep disturbance. The varied symptoms of sleep disorders often result in these patients presenting in a complicated manner that leads to confusion as to their underlying diagnosis. Multiple underlying causes for sleep disruption may be present; each of which requires treatment to produce good quality sleep. Sleep medicine specialists using state ­of-the-art diagnostic techniques as well as clinical experience with sleep disorder patients can often provide a thorough and accurate diagnosis plus effective insomnia treatment.

INSOMNIA HELP GUIDE

• Insomnia Symptoms & Causes
• Types of Insomnia
• Depression and Insomnia
• Sleeping Disorders
• Night Eating Syndrome
• Restless Legs Syndrome
• Circadian Rhythms
• Conditioned Insomnia
• Chronic Insomnia
• Sleep Apnea
• Sleep Apnea Symptoms
• Sleep Apnea Treatment
• Snoring
• Sleeping Disorders & Insomnia in Children and Infants
• Insomnia Treatment and Medication
• Sleep Tips

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