|
|
|
Types of Insomnia Insomnia is classified into three types Transient, Acute (Short-Term) and Chronic. Transient Insomnia lasts from a single night to few weeks and after that everything will be normal. Sleeplessness caused due to a short term anxiety or jet-lag can be grouped under transient insomnia. If such sleeplessness occurs again and again, then that condition is referred to as intermittent. Acute Insomnia lasts from three weeks to six months, but the patient experiences no symptoms or episodes after that. If sleeplessness occurs for at least three nights a week and the pattern continues to over a month or more, then it is considered to be Chronic Insomnia. It is the most severe form of insomnia one can get. Causes Insomnia can be primary or secondary. Primary insomnia is caused naturally and is in no way related to any health issue or disease. Secondary insomnia is the result of some medical condition such as asthma, cancer, arthritis - fear, stress, anxiety, medications, or a poor sleeping environment in ones bedroom (partner snoring or any other irritating sound or noise constantly disturbing the sleep). Some other causes of insomnia include sleep apnea, parasomnia, mania, hypomania, gastroesophageal reflux disease etc. It can also be a symptom of an approaching depression or hyper-thyroidsm. Treatments As mentioned earlier, insomnia may be the result of a variety of factors. Hence its treatment also includes diagnosing the exact cause of sleeplessness, and addressing the issue precisely. For example, if insomnia is caused due to some underlying mental illnesses, it must be cured before the patient could again able to sleep peacefully. In some cases, doctors may prescribe sleeping pills to bring back the sleep, but such a methodology is not advisable for longer periods. Relaxation therapy, meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, reconditioning, and sleep restriction techniques are also invariably suggested for insomnia, but its effectiveness may vary from person to person. |
加入最爱