Insomnia Confidential

Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a condition in which the patient is unable to sleep well. Sleeplessness is a very common problem and affects many people all over the world. Persons suffering from insomnia do not get proper amount of quality sleep and so experience many other problems like tiredness, fatigue, poor memory and loss of productivity. They also have social problems. Most people have short term sleeplessness due to stress or mental tension. However, some people have long term problems of sleep. About one in every two adults is affected by short term insomnia that lasts about a week. Long term insomnia, which lasts more than six weeks, affects one in every five adults.  

There are many factors that may cause insomnia. Factors that cause temporary insomnia are:

·         Stress

·         Illness

·         Pain

·         Improper sleeping environment

·         Change in sleeping pattern

Temporary insomnia can be cured within a few days. Nevertheless, temporary insomnia should not be neglected. Lack of sleep at night may cause excessive sleepiness at day time and can cause accidents while driving or at work. There is also a possibility of chronic poor quality sleep.

Chronic insomnia lasts for many months or even for years. Some of the factors that cause chronic insomnia are:

• Emotional conditions like stress, depression and anxiety
• Underlying diseases like heart diseases, digestive problems, breathing problems or chronic pain
• Stimulants like tobacco/nicotine or caffeine
• Improper sleeping habits like watching television
• Use of alcohol and drugs

There are many symptoms of insomnia and they vary widely among people. Common symptoms include difficulty in falling asleep, waking up many times in the night and difficulty in going back to sleep and waking up very early in the morning. Due to lack of sleep, tiredness and irritability may be experience during the daytime.

There are no specific tests to diagnose insomnia. Insomnia is not a disease. Since insomnia is a symptom of some underlying disease, the doctor may run a medical checkup and prescribe some medications. Usually, a physical test and a blood test are conducted to identify the underlying diseases. Sleep studies may also be performed to get a clearer picture. When the underlying cause is treated, insomnia may either disappear completely or become better.

The cure to insomnia lies in the cure to the underlying cause. If insomnia is due to chronic pain or digestive problems, curing these problems will usually solve the problem. Mild forms of insomnia can be treated by making lifestyle changes like setting up strict time for sleeping and waking and avoiding caffeinated drinks like coffee before going to bed. Exercising may also help. It is better to avoid sleeping during the daytime.

Sleep is an integral part of our day to day life. It is very important to get enough quality sleep. Efficiency can be severely hampered by lack of sleep. It is very important to ensure proper sleep. Incase, there is difficulty in getting sleep, it is advised to approach the doctor. Neglecting sleeplessness is not advised as it can have serious problems.

Alternative therapy uses a variety of methods to cure a disease. These methods usually include changes to lifestyle and mental conditioning. The commonly used alternate therapies are acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy, herbal medicines, hypnosis, massage, guided imagery and biofeedback.

Some of the alternative therapies that are being commonly employed to treat insomnia or sleeplessness include acupuncture, relaxation, meditation, use of herbal supplements and exercise.

Since centuries, acupuncture has been in use for treating various diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine highly recommends acupuncture for curing insomnia. Acupuncture involves insertion of needles at particular points in the body to influence the body’s function. Sometimes the needles are used in combination with electrical stimulus or with heat produced by burning herbs. Recent studies have shown that acupuncture improves sleep in people suffering from sleeplessness. Despite these studies, modern medicine still does not accept acupuncture as its equal and more research is needed to prove that acupuncture genuinely works.

Sleep is affected by increased tension in the muscles. Intense thought affects sleep. Approaches that are aimed at relaxing the muscles and soothing the mind are effective in treating insomnia. Anybody can learn these techniques and it takes a few weeks to master these techniques sufficiently enough to cure insomnia. It is a proven fact that meditation is very effective in treating sleeplessness. In a recent study, it was found that regular meditation increases the levels of melatonin in the blood. Melatonin is an important factor that governs sleep in humans.

Melatonin is a hormone released by the pineal gland, a pea sized structure located at the center of the brain. It is also produced in some plants. The functions of melatonin are poorly understood, but it is known that melatonin plays an important role in regulating sleep cycle in humans.

Herbal supplements that relieve sleeplessness include valerian root, chamomile and other herbs like skullcap, passion flower and ginseng. Studies conducted regarding sleeplessness and valerian root have shown that the root of valerian officinalis helps with maintenance of sleep. Even then, more research into this topic is needed to make any confirmative conclusions. Another commonly used herb for treating insomnia is chamomile. Chamomile is safe to use and no side effects from its use are known.

Another alternative therapy is exercise therapy. Exercise is known to enhance sleep in people. Even though consistent exercise is found to improve sleep in people, it is advised that it is the most beneficial to exercise at least 4-5 hours before going to bed. This way, interference to sleep would be minimal.

Alternative therapies may interfere with other medications and so, it is wise to follow the following to avoid adverse effects:

· It is advised to inform the doctor about the alternative therapy.

· If side effects like vomiting, nausea, skin rashes, etc develop upon consuming herbal medicines, the medication should be stopped and the doctor should be informed. Some people have allergy towards herbal medications.

· Only approved brands should be used.