Overview

Insomnia is a symptom of any of several sleep disorders, characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. By definition, insomnia is “difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both” and it may be due to inadequate quality or quantity of sleep. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Both organic and non-organic insomnia without other cause constitute a sleep disorder, primary insomnia.

Causes

Insomnia can be caused by several reasons, sometimes there is one main cause, but often several factors interacting together will cause a sleep disturbance. Here the list of causes of insomnia:

• Jet lag
• Changes in shift work
• Excessive or unpleasant noise
• Uncomfortable room temperature
• Presence of an acute medical or surgical illness or hospitalization
• Withdrawal from drug, alcohol, sedative, or stimulant medications
• Insomnia related to high altitude

• Anxiety, a condition in which individuals feel increased tension, apprehension, and feelings of helplessness, fear, worry, and uncertainty.

• Medical conditions. These include allergies, arthritis, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, and Parkinson’s disease.

• Overuse of caffeine and alcohol.

Symptom

Each person experiences insomnia differently. People with insomnia may:

• Have trouble falling asleep. This can mean lying in bed for up to an hour or more, tossing and turning, waiting to fall asleep.
• Wake up and have trouble falling back to sleep.

• Wake up too early in the morning.

• Feel tired when they wake up, like they didn’t get enough sleep.

• Feel grouchy, sleepy, or anxious, and be unable to get things done during the daytime.