What Is Insomnia and How Is It Treated?

I have written about insomnia before, and recommended some natural home remedies to help with insomnia. I found some information about insomnia on the National Institute of Health website, and I wanted to share some key points:

• Insomnia is a common condition in which you have trouble falling or staying asleep. The condition can range from mild to severe, depending on how often it occurs and for how long.
• Insomnia can be chronic (ongoing) or acute (short-term). Chronic insomnia means having symptoms at least 3 nights a week for more than a month. Insomnia that lasts for less time is acute insomnia.
• There are two types of insomnia. The most common type is secondary insomnia. This type of insomnia is a symptom or side effect of an emotional, neurological, or other medical or sleep disorder. Secondary insomnia also may result from using certain medicines or substances, such as caffeine.
• Primary insomnia isn't a symptom or side effect of another medical condition. It is its own disorder. A number of life changes can trigger primary insomnia, such as long-lasting stress or emotional upset. Even if these issues are resolved, the insomnia might not go away.
• Insomnia is a common disorder. One in 3 adults has insomnia sometimes. One in 10 adults has chronic insomnia.

As you can see, a large number of adults have at least occasional insomnia, and about 10% suffer from chronic insomnia.



There are a number of approaches to treat insomnia. These include drugs, lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and behavioral therapy.

Sometimes, a few common sense lifestyle changes are all that you need to help you fall asleep faster:

• If you drink caffeinated beverages of any kind, stop; or don’t drink any after lunch.
• If you drink alcohol, it can make you fall asleep, but it will disrupt the quality of your sleep, so you should not drink several hours before you go to bed.
• Don’t watch television in bed, the flickering light will keep you from feeling sleepy. So will the constant scene changes, and changing volume levels.
• Don’t work in bed. It will keep your mind active when you should be winding down.
• Don’t read in bed. If you feel you need to read before bed to feel drowsy, do it in a chair close to your bed, and do not use a bright light.
• Make sure the lights are dimmed as you are getting ready for bed; this signals your brain that it is time to produce melatonin. (A naturally produced hormone that makes you feel sleepy.)
• Don’t exercise vigorously before going to bed. Some gentle stretching and deep breathing may help you wind down, but vigorous exercise will keep you from falling asleep.
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This helps your body establish a natural sleep cycle.

In my next post, I will continue talking about insomnia treatments.