What causes Insomnia??? And how to avoid it???!
Question: Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in year 2007, approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.
Insomnia can be caused by:
* Psychoactive drugs or stimulants, including certain medications, herbs, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, MDMA, methamphetamine and modafinil
* Hormone shifts such as those that precede menstruation and those during menopause
* Life problems like fear, stress, anxiety, emotional or mental tension, work problems, financial stress, unsatisfactory sex life
* Mental disorders such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, general anxiety disorder
* Disturbances of the circadian rhythm, such as shift work and jet lag, can cause an inability to sleep at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day. Jet lag is seen in people who travel through multiple time zones, as the time relative to the rising and setting of the sun no longer coincides with the body's internal concept of it. The insomnia experienced by shift workers is also a circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
* Certain neurological disorders, brain lesions, or a history of traumatic brain injury
* Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and Wilson's syndrome
* Abuse of over-the counter or prescription sleep aids can produce rebound insomnia
* Poor sleep hygiene
* Parasomnia, which includes a number of disruptive sleep events including nightmares, sleepwalking, violent behavior while sleeping, and REM behavior disorder, in which a person moves his/her physical body in response to events within his/her dreams
* A rare genetic condition can cause a prion-based, permanent and eventually fatal form of insomnia called fatal familial insomnia
A common misperception is that the amount of sleep a person requires decreases as he or she ages. The ability to sleep for long periods, rather than the need for sleep, appears to be lost as people get older. Some elderly insomniacs toss and turn in bed and occasionally fall off the bed at night, diminishing the amount of sleep they receive.[6]
An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it. Insomnia can be common after the loss of a loved one, even years or decades after the death, if they have not gone through the grieving process. Overall, however, symptoms and the degree of severity affects different people differently, depending on their mental health, physical condition, and attitude or personality.
Answers: Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or "rest their mind" for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in year 2007, approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and 30 percent of men.
Insomnia can be caused by:
* Psychoactive drugs or stimulants, including certain medications, herbs, caffeine, cocaine, ephedrine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, MDMA, methamphetamine and modafinil
* Hormone shifts such as those that precede menstruation and those during menopause
* Life problems like fear, stress, anxiety, emotional or mental tension, work problems, financial stress, unsatisfactory sex life
* Mental disorders such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, general anxiety disorder
* Disturbances of the circadian rhythm, such as shift work and jet lag, can cause an inability to sleep at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day. Jet lag is seen in people who travel through multiple time zones, as the time relative to the rising and setting of the sun no longer coincides with the body's internal concept of it. The insomnia experienced by shift workers is also a circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
* Certain neurological disorders, brain lesions, or a history of traumatic brain injury
* Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and Wilson's syndrome
* Abuse of over-the counter or prescription sleep aids can produce rebound insomnia
* Poor sleep hygiene
* Parasomnia, which includes a number of disruptive sleep events including nightmares, sleepwalking, violent behavior while sleeping, and REM behavior disorder, in which a person moves his/her physical body in response to events within his/her dreams
* A rare genetic condition can cause a prion-based, permanent and eventually fatal form of insomnia called fatal familial insomnia
A common misperception is that the amount of sleep a person requires decreases as he or she ages. The ability to sleep for long periods, rather than the need for sleep, appears to be lost as people get older. Some elderly insomniacs toss and turn in bed and occasionally fall off the bed at night, diminishing the amount of sleep they receive.[6]
An overactive mind or physical pain may also be causes. Finding the underlying cause of insomnia is usually necessary to cure it. Insomnia can be common after the loss of a loved one, even years or decades after the death, if they have not gone through the grieving process. Overall, however, symptoms and the degree of severity affects different people differently, depending on their mental health, physical condition, and attitude or personality.
chummyonly1, prety much has it,
I don't have the stats for the UK, but they are probably about the same.
The other details are the same.
Insomnia, headaches and migraines, digestive troubles and constipation, achy bones and moodiness and irritability are all symptoms of calcium deficiency. For calcium to be effectively absorbed it is essential for the human body to have sufficient supplies of vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin)
Sooooo eat more calcium rich foods ie ~ leafy and green vegies, cold water fishes such as sardines and salmon, sunflower seeds, walnuts, peanuts, dried beans , kale, broccoli and collard greens.
Eat more foods rich in vitamin D too ie ~ fish oils and cold water fishes such as salmon..... or simply get 10 - 15 minutes of safe sun exposure daily.
Carbonated drinks ie ~ sodas and soft drinks and antacids such as Mylanta will rob you of your precious calcium supplies ? With carbonated drinks they leach the calcium from our bones.
Calcium is needed in our bodies to maintain strong bones and healthy teeth, to keep your heart beating regularly, help metabolize your body's iron and aiding your nervous system with impulse transmissions.
Pump up you fresh filtered water intake too as the healthiest and happiest body will always be the most hydrated one ?
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and Vitamin B3 (Niacin) work together to produce the brain chemical serotonin, which is essential for restful REM sleep ........... soooo a deficiency in either of these will also cause insomnia ......... so take a multi B complex supplement that includes all the B's at least 2 - 3 hours before bedtime, ie ~ B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12...... do not buy any of the B complex of vitamins individually unless under instructions from a qualified practitioner or naturopath as the B complex all work best as a group.
Have a soothing cup of organic loose leaf chamomile tea ~ this could be the sleep remedy you need too?
For more difficult insomnia, try 1mg of melatonin sublingually (dissolved under the tongue) 15 minutes before bedtime?any good health food store will be able to provide you with all these things?
Naturally resolving the problem will always be the best way .... :0)
hope this helps a bit ?
CHEERS
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Mine began with extreme prolonged stress - http://www.fms-help.com/insomnia.htm - but sometimes people develop insomnia from shift work, a virus, or sleep being disturbed over a long period of time due to circumstances out of their control.
Sleep is governed by the hypothalamus area of the brain. A "normal" person can get back on a regular sleeping pattern after a temporary period of disruption. Others, like me, have a "broken sleep clock." My problem started at age 16. I am now 56.
A list of things I've tried for sleep is at http://www.fms-help.com/sleep.htm - things I use now are at http://www.fms-help.com/what.htm
Mainly, if you think you are starting to develop insomnia, reduce stress in your life, and attempt to have good sleep hygiene (i.e., go to bed approximately the same time every night and get up at the same time - mild exercise during the day, etc.)
However, if you have a broken sleep clock (no circadian rhythm), these measures will not help. There are OTC sleep meds and also those prescribed by doctors that can help. Each person with insomnia has to figure out what is best for them to do. I hate being dependent on pills, but without them, I do not sleep at all. This can go on for many days. You can't keep a job, go to school, etc. unless you can get regular, restorative sleep, so this is what I have to do to function.
Back to your question - avoid stress, don't take shift work, and don't overload your brain and nervous system, especially with studying, worry and computer work. Take it easy. Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, cokes). Exercise regularly. Take good care of your health. Even with these precautions, there are people like me whose brain chemistry leans toward anxiety and depression, so when you add severe prolonged stress to that, you get a permanent sleep disorder.