Tips for Your Health:  Insomnia

Insomnia is the inability to sleep or inability to sleep well at night. Many different medical and mental health problems cause insomnia. Insomnia may be situational, lasting a few days to weeks, or chronic, lasting for more than 1 month.

Around 9-12 percent of the American population report chronic insomnia. In severe cases, patients experience fatigue, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating and difficulty with thinking. Many sufferers feel that they have been robbed of the joy of life. Insomnia may be a symptom of breathing problems at night like sleep apnea, of medical illness like heart failure, a side effect of medications, or a symptom of severe anxiety or depression illness.

While short-lasting insomnia periods are well treated with medication, chronic or long-lasting insomnia may not respond well to medications. Thus, throwing sleeping pills at many patients with chronic insomnia is not an effective way to treat the problem.

An evaluation by the patient’s personal physician or a sleep specialist often helps get to the root of the problem.