Insomnia: Types, Symptoms, Causes and More What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder which causes trouble falling or/and staying asleep. It can be either short term or acute or long term or chronic insomnia. It is better to first know the causes and buy sleeping pills to get over the sleep disorder. If the problem persists, then it is better to consult a doctor and get yourself checked thoroughly.
Insomnia or sleep disorder can be very dangerous to one’s health and can be life threatening too. For instance, lack of sleep can lead to fatal accidents, behavioral problems, job performance, memory problems and mood swings etc.

Types of Insomnia
Depending upon the its seriousness it is divided into 5 different types and they are:

1. Acute Insomnia: It is considered as the most common type of insomnia as its duration is initially short but may last up to a month or more. It is also called adjustment insomnia because this type is usually caused by either a change of environment or stressful events.

Causes of Acute Insomnia:
The acute insomnia can be caused due to:
o Excessive noise or irritating light issues.
o Extreme coldness/hotness.
o Uncomfortable sleeping place.
o Shifting to a new place.
o Jet lag.
o Meeting deadlines and approaching examinations.
o Suffering or demise of a relative or friend.
o Problems in a relationship.
o Having pain.
o Certain medications or treatments.
o Severe illness or allergies.

2. Chronic Insomnia: Insomnia, if not treated on time, can become a long-term or chronic disease. A patient is said to have chronic insomnia if he faces difficulties in sleeping from three days to a month or so. Chronic insomnia may be primary or secondary.
   Primary Insomnia is also called Idiopathic Insomnia and there is no cause behind the sleep disorder.
   Secondary Insomnia. is also called Comorbid Insomnia. Secondary insomnia is common in people and occurs due to some medical or health conditions.

Causes of Chronic Insomnia:
Chronic insomnia may be caused due to:
o Thyroid or acid reflux disease, sleep apnea or neurological diseases etc. or chronic pain.
o Physiological problems such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder etc.
o Medications that include blood pressure, respiration, antidepressants, hormonal problems, anti-epileptic or chemotherapy etc.
o Excessive intake of brain stimulants such as nicotine (smoking) or caffeine (tea/coffee).
o Age factor is also involved as people with 65+ ages are more likely to have insomnia.

3. Onset Insomnia: In this type of Insomnia, the patient faces difficulty in initiating sleep. It may be short term in the beginning but may become long term and cause serious illness later or if not cured appropriately.

Causes of Onset Insomnia:
Onset Insomnia may be caused due to:
o Excessive use of central nervous system stimulants such as coffee or nicotine.
o Change and unfamiliarity with the environment.
o Severe pain or stress.

4. Maintenance Insomnia: A person is said to have maintenance insomnia if he faces difficulty in staying asleep or waking up early and difficulty going back to sleep.
   Causes of Maintenance Insomnia
   This type of insomnia is caused due to:
   o Asthma or other respiratory issues.
   o Nose block and sinus allergies.
   o Restless leg syndrome (RLS).
   o Acid reflux disease.
   o Chronic pain.
5. Behavioral Insomnia in Childhood (BIC): This type is characterized by children having difficulty falling asleep or fail to maintain sleep which eventually leads to poor sleep quality and duration. BIC can also be seen in adults who face poor sleep hygiene practices however, they have the ability to sleep well and on time. Such poor hygiene practices gradually lead to sleep loss or insomnia.
   Symptoms of Insomnia
   If an individual lacks sleep, it cannot be insomnia all the time. If you want to know if you are suffering from insomnia or not, then here are some signs and symptoms provided to you. If you undergo any of them for more than a month then certainly either buy sleeping pills and get proper sleep or consult your doctor.
   Signs and Symptoms of Insomnia
   Following are the signs and symptoms of insomnia:
   o Trouble falling asleep at night.
   o Disturbed sleep.
   o Waking up early and then unable to sleep again while feeling sleepy or drowsy.
   o Poor concentration, focus and thinking about unwanted things.
   o Frequent headache or migraines.
   o Acid reflux.
   o Fatigue.
   o Tiredness.
   o Lack of energy.
   o Lack of concentration.
   o Reduced work performance.
   After examining yourself with the signs and symptoms start taking sleeping pills and if the condition continues then visit the doctor.
   Insomnia Analysis
   Once you know that you are having sleep disorder then it is better to ask the physician for the treatment. Since not all the time it is a syndrome, the doctor will first analyze and then diagnose by asking your medical and sleep history. The doctor may ask you to keep a track of your sleep patterns and your activities during the day.
   Causes of Insomnia
   As discussed earlier about the causes along with the diverse types of insomnia. Here is a detail how mild insomnia leads to a chronic one.
   Poor Sleep Hygiene
   The chronic sleep disorder may begin with some mild symptoms as well as habits which may include poor sleep hygiene. These are actually the bad habits that make an individual not fall asleep and can be due to several reasons such as late night sittings, taking coffee/drug before going to bed, eating late at nights, using tablets, mobiles and watching TV late at nights are the main causes of insomnia and later develop poor sleep hygiene. If these are controlled at the initial stages, then the situation may not get worse.
   Sleep Apnea
   It happens when a person stops breathing several times during sleep. They are mainly noticed by the spouse and repeated breathing issues distract the sleep cycle and thus cause daytime sleepiness. Its symptoms are noisy snoring at the initial stage and then change to worse. In order to overcome sleep apnea, it is recommended to change lifestyles that include quitting smoking, losing weight, avoid alcohol and use the breathing devices.
   Restless Leg Syndrome
   This syndrome makes the legs feel uncomfortable especially while lying down. RLC is a disorder that is caused mainly by the nervous system. It can be a main cause of insomnia as it affects the legs by causing abnormal cravings to move them. Mostly these cravings seem to happen at night more frequently and thus cause sleep interruption and later lead to insomnia.
   Age
   It is the main cause as most people with 65+ ages are found as a patient of insomnia with no health issues in some cases. Such individuals can be given or they can buy sleeping pills online and can enjoy a sound sleep.
   Mental Health
   Mental health also plays an important part in sleep disorder. The mental health issues that include depression, anxiety, seizure, posttraumatic stress disorder or financial problems are some of the common reasons that may lead to insomnia. it is recommended to go for exercises and make the body feel tired. It will certainly help overcome the sleep problem. It is better to buy sleeping pills and take a sound sleep but if the condition persists then consulting