Insomnia

 

This week I thought we would take a look at something I am thankfully I don’t suffer from, although there have been times when I felt like I do suffer from it. The condition is insomnia.

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep, even when you have the time and environment to sleep well. It can cause you to wake up too early or not feel refreshed when you wake up. Insomnia can affect your mood, energy levels, and daily activities. 

Insomnia can be caused by stress, physical ailments, mental health problems, or poor sleep habits. 

It can affect people of all ages, but teens may be especially susceptible.

In most cases it is related to poor sleeping habits, depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, chronic illness or certain medication.

Symptoms may include difficulty falling or staying asleep and not feeling well-rested.

Treatment for insomnia consists of improving sleep habits, behaviour therapy and identifying and treating underlying causes. Sleeping pills may also be used but should be monitored for side effects.

It seems that more women than men have insomnia in the United States, more than one in four women experience insomnia, compared with fewer than one in five men. 

Also, a study found that women of all ages reported worse sleep quality than men. 

Women are twice as likely to have insomnia than men. 

This may be due to hormonal changes that women have during menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can cause or contribute to sleep difficulties. There are also physical symptoms that many women deal with during these times such as cramps or night sweats, that disrupt sleep. 

Caffeine can cause insomnia, especially if consumed in large amounts or close to bedtime, a study found that 400 mg of caffeine taken up to 6 hours before bed can significantly disrupt sleep, reducing it by more than an hour. 

Caffeine can disrupt your natural sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to get quality sleep. 

People with chronic insomnia may use caffeine to cope with daytime sleep deprivation, which can worsen insomnia at night. 

The exact effects of caffeine depend on the dose and an individual's sensitivity. 

To minimize the risk of insomnia, it's generally recommended to avoid caffeine in the hours before bed. People who regularly drink caffeine may be able to tolerate it better than those who don't. 

Next week I will post the list of things that so called experts suggest to help with insomnia.