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Insomnia

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What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition in which you have trouble falling or staying asleep. Some people with insomnia may fall asleep easily but wake up too soon. Other people may have the opposite problem, or they have trouble with both falling asleep and staying asleep. The end result is poor–quality sleep that doesn't leave you feeling refreshed when you wake up.

Types of Insomnia

There are two types of insomnia. The most common type is called secondary insomnia. More than 8 out of 10 people with insomnia are believed to have secondary insomnia. Secondary means that the insomnia is a symptom or a side–effect of some other problem. Some of the problems that can cause secondary insomnia include:

Certain illnesses, such as some heart and lung diseases
Pain, anxiety, and depression
Medicines that delay or disrupt sleep as a side–effect
Caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and other substances that affect sleep
Another sleep disorder, such as restless legs syndrome; a poor sleep environment; or a change in sleep routine
In contrast, primary insomnia is not a side–effect of medicines or another medical problem. It is its own disorder, and generally persists for least 1 month or longer.

Overview

Insomnia is a common health problem. It can cause excessive daytime sleepiness and a lack of energy. Long–term insomnia can cause you to feel depressed or irritable; have trouble paying attention, learning, and remembering; and not do your best on the job or at school. Insomnia also can limit the energy you have to spend with friends or family.

Insomnia can be mild to severe depending on how often it occurs and for how long. Chronic insomnia means having symptoms at least 3 nights per week for more than a month. Insomnia that lasts for less time is known as short–term or acute insomnia.

Outlook

Secondary insomnia often resolves or improves without treatment if you can eliminate its cause. This is especially true if the problem can be corrected soon after it starts. Better sleep habits and lifestyle changes often help relieve insomnia. You may need to see a doctor or sleep specialist to get the best relief for insomnia that is persistent or for which the cause of the sleep problem is unclear.

What Causes Insomnia?

Causes of Secondary Insomnia

Secondary insomnia is often a symptom of an emotional, neurological, or other medical disorder, or of another sleep disorder.

The emotional disorders that can cause secondary insomnia include depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are examples of common neurological disorders that can cause secondary insomnia.

A number of other diseases and conditions can cause secondary insomnia, including:

Conditions that cause chronic pain, such as arthritis and headache disorders
Conditions that cause difficulty breathing, such as asthma or heart failure
Overactive thyroid
Gastrointestinal disorders, such as heartburn
Stroke
Sleep disorders, such as restless legs syndrome, also can cause secondary insomnia. In addition, secondary insomnia can be a side–effect of certain medicines or commonly used substances, including:

Caffeine or other stimulants
Tobacco or other products with nicotine
Alcohol or other sedatives
Certain asthma medicines (for example, theophylline) and some allergy and cold medicines
Beta blockers (medicines used to treat heart conditions)

Causes of Primary Insomnia

Primary insomnia is not due to another medical or emotional condition and typically occurs for periods of at least 1 month. Whether some people are born with a greater chance of having insomnia is not clear yet. A number of life changes can trigger primary insomnia, including:

Major or long–lasting stress and emotional upset
Travel or other factors such as work schedules that disrupt your sleep routine
Even after these causes go away, the insomnia might stay. Trouble sleeping may persist because of habits formed to deal with the lack of sleep. These habits include taking naps, worrying about sleep, or going to bed early.

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