Sleep is a reversible state of reduced awareness and responsiveness to the environment. Sleep is a universal behavior observed in every animal species. The important functions of sleep include physical and psychological restoration and recovery,memory consolidation, energy conservation,brain growth,discharge of emotions and other biological functions.
Sleep serves a restorative, homeostatic function and is crucial for normal thermoregulation and energy conservation.It is clearly necessary for survival as prolonged sleep deprivation may lead to severe physical and cognitive disturbances and eventually also death.
Some persons who are normally short sleepers require less than 6 hours of sleep each night for adequate functioning, while long sleepers require more than 9 hours of sleep each night to function adequately. The amount of sleep required also depends on one’s daily routine, health, body built and stamina. The amount of sleep needed increases with physical work,illness, pregnancy, exercise,general mental stress and increased mental activity.
When a person finds difficulty falling asleep or difficulty in sleep maintenance it is called as insomnia. During the night there may be multiple awakenings with difficulty in going back to sleep again. Inability to sleep properly during the night may lead to sleepiness and other unpleasant consequences in the daytime.
The insomnia experienced by an individual may be transient/short term or a long term problem. Transient insomnia may be caused by anxiety, either in anticipation of an anxiety provoking experience(an impending job interview or an examination)or as a sequel to an anxious experience.
In some persons,this transient insomnia may be due to loss,grief or almost any life change or stress. This condition is not likely to be serious and it improves in a few days on its own.
Persistent/long term insomnia is due to a group of conditions where the problem is often difficulty in falling/initiating sleep rather than remaining asleep.
The various physical causes for insomnia include any painful or uncomfortable condition like arthritis, asthma,heart failure,overactive thyroid, stroke,cancer, lung disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),Alzheimer’s disease andParkinson disease. Certain breathing difficulties or a need to urinate frequently may also interfere with sleep. generally the treatment of the underlying medical condition will help to improve insomnia too.
Certain stimulants like tea, coffee, cola and other caffeine-containing drinks when taken during late afternoon or night time may interfere with sleep. Having a heavy dinner late in the evening may make one physically uncomfortable or cause heart burn and may disturb sleep.
The various psychological causes for insomnia include conditions which may cause stress like concerns about school,work, family or health, keeping the mind active during the night and thus making it difficult to sleep.Everyday anxieties and the more serious anxiety disorders may also disrupt sleep.
Depression occurring due to chemical imbalances in the brain may also lead to either insomnia or a tendency to sleep excessively. Post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder as well as certain medications like heart and blood pressure medications, antidepressant medications, allergy medications, decongestants, stimulants (like Ritalin) and steroids may also interfere with sleep.
Poor sleep habits and sleep hygiene may also lead to chronic insomnia.
In most of the cases of insomnia, improving the sleep habits can help relieve the problem, but if it does not, consulting a health professional should be considered to come out of this cycle of insomnia.
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