Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep.
The condition can be short-term (acute) or can last a long time (chronic)
What are the common causes of Insomnia?
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- Stress and anxiety
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- A poor sleeping environment – such as an uncomfortable bed, or a bedroom that’s too light, noisy, hot or cold
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- Mental health conditions – such as depression and anxiety
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- Certain medicines – such as some antidepressants, epilepsy medicines and steroid medication
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- Lifestyle factors – such as jet lag, shift work, or drinking alcohol or caffeine before going to bed
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- Physical health conditions – such as heart problems, other sleep disorders and long-term pain
What are the complications of Insomnia?
Lack of adequate sleep can lead to –
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- Depression.
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- Anxiety.
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- High blood pressure (hypertension).
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- Heart attack.
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- Stroke.
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- Obstructive sleep apnea.
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- Type 2 diabetes.
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- Obesity.
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- Psychosis.
What are the common measures that can be taken to treat insomnia?
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- Setting regular times for going to bed and waking up
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- Avoiding caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, heavy meals and exercise for a few hours before going to bed
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- Relaxing before bed time – try taking a warm bath or listening to calming music
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- Using thick curtains or blinds, an eye mask and earplugs to stop you being woken up by light and noise
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- Not watching TV or using phones, tablets or computers shortly before going to bed
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- Not napping during the day
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- Writing a list of your worries, and any ideas about how to solve them, before going to bed to help you forget about them until the morning
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- Medications that help you fall or stay asleep (especially ones that aren’t habit-forming or that might otherwise affect your sleep).
Common medications used are —
- Benzodiazepines
- “Z-drugs”: eg Zolpidem
- Dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs): Orexin is a wake-promoting chemical in your brain. Blocking orexin helps make you sleepy. Examples include lemborexant and daridorexant.
- Antiseizure medications: These include gabapentin and pregabalin, which can help with conditions like restless leg syndrome, which can keep you awake.
- Sedating antidepressants: These include tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drugs like doxepin and amitriptyline, and trazodone.
- Melatonin and related drugs: Melatonin is a chemical your brain uses that tells you it’s time to go to sleep. It can come in prescription strength. There are also synthetic analogues like ramelteon.