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Insomnia
Overview:
Difficulty in falling or staying asleep? Insomnia affects almost one third of the population.
Signs and Symptoms:
* Inability to fall asleep
* Waking up throughout the night and not being able to get back to sleep
* Waking up too early
* Symptoms of tiredness and irritability are commonly experienced during the day due to lack of sleep
Causes and Organs Affected:
Occasional and temporary disturbance of one's normal sleeping pattern is normal and not cause for concern - anxiety, depression, worry or excitement are the most common causes, and the insomnia goes away when the cause is resolved.
Physical ailments that can interfere with your sleep include disorders of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and digestive system.
Risk Factor:
Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night. But your risk of insomnia is greater if: Female, You're over age 60, You have a mental health disorder, You're under a lot of stress, You work night or changing shifts and You travel long distances.
Treatment:
A well-balanced lifestyle incorporating a healthy diet with regular exercise and relaxation is the best prevention from insomnia.
Ensure your bedroom is quiet, dark and well-ventilated. Ear plugs and eye-shades may help to reduce noise and light, and are particularly valuable for shift workers.
Lifestyle Management:
Avoid stimulants such as sugar, cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages after 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Vigorous exercise and adrenaline pumping books and television shows before bed are also likely to make it difficult to sleep.
A glass of warm milk at bedtime may help to induce sleep, as may a warm bath containing relaxing essential oils such as Lavender or Marjoram.