Insomnia

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate November 2001

download word file, 18 pages 0.0

In the United States today, there are many people who deal with some sort of sleeping disorder. One of these main sleeping disorders is Insomnia. There are many different causes and treatments for insomnia. Some main causes of insomnia are age, gender, depression, drug withdrawal and medication. People can be treated. Some treatments are medication, therapy, restriction, and reconditioning. There also can be changes in sleep behaviors.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that insomnia is difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to fall back to sleep, waking up too early in the morning, and unrefreshing sleep. (NIH 1). According to Columbia Encyclopedia insomnia is abnormal sleeping or not being able to sleep (1). This could be caused from illness or stimulants (Columbia Encyclopedia 1). Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) states there are about one hundred sleep disorders, and these have been narrowed down to four categories.

One of the categories is insomnia. (2). Insomnia can be defined as difficulty falling asleep, awkwardness waking and waking up early. (MFMER 2). Insomnia is the most frequently reported sleep complaint. Insomnia is considered a syndrome not a disease. (MFMER 2). According to Goodman, some alternative names for insomnia are inability to sleep, drowsiness, sleeplessness, and wakefulness (1). Insomnia is not a disease by itself. Insomnia is the most common of the disorders (Goodman 1).

According to McKinley Health Center (MHC) some people are kept awake by painful conditions such as arthritis, needing to urinate frequently, or similar systems.

Tarvin 2 People who have asthma are unable to sleep because of having breathing problems. Other medical problems can have a great interference with the length or quality of sleep. People who deal with insomnia may have a great affect on their...