Insomnia And Sleep Disorders
Insomnia is when you find it difficult to fall or stay asleep.
Symptoms
Obviously not getting enough sleep can leave you feeling tired during the day. This can make you moody and irritable, make it difficult to concentrate and even lead to increased risk of mistakes and accidents.
Causes
Common causes of insomnia include:
- Chronic pain,
- Some medications,
- Alcohol or drugs,
- Depression, grief, anxiety or stress,
- Sleep disorders,
- Sometimes there is no cause.
Sleep disorders
Common sleep disorders include:
- Sleep apnoea – is when the walls of the throat collapse during sleep resulting in a brief cessation of breathing. This can wake the sleeper resulting in insomnia.
- Restless leg syndrome – is a condition which compels the sleeper to move their legs.
- Delayed sleep phase disorder – a circadian rhythm disorder whereby people struggle to sleep until the early hours of the morning, and can only get adequate sleep if they have the opportunity to sleep in late.
- Advanced sleep phase disorder – the opposite to ‘delayed sleep phase disorder’, those with advanced sleep phase disorder get sleepy mid to late afternoon, then often wake in the early hours of the morning.
Treatments
It is important to identify the cause of the insomnia and treat this, which will in turn treat the insomnia. Other interventions which may help include:
- Avoiding napping during the day,
- Going to bed at the right time,
- Avoiding alcohol and caffeinated drinks before bed,
- Regular physical activity,
- Having a good bedtime routine,
- Having a good sleep environment that is dark, cool, uncluttered and quiet.
If you are still struggling to sleep, a sleep diary may help you identify the cause of your insomnia. If insomnia persists, speak to your health care professional.
Disclaimer
The content displayed on this webpage is intended for informational purposes and is a guide only. It does not replace or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Information contained on this webpage must be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional before making any decisions or taking any action based on the content of this webpage.
Sources
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Sleep_problems_insomnia
http://sleephealthfoundation.org.au/pdfs/Insomnia.pdf
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Sleep_common_disorders
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