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snoring with pauses, choking is a strong indicator of sleep apnea and should be
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Insomnia
Almost everyone occasionally
suffers from short-term insomnia. This problem can result from stress, jet lag,
diet, or many other factors. Insomnia almost always affects job performance and
well-being the next day. About 60 million Americans a year have insomnia frequently
or for extended periods of time, which leads to even more serious sleep deficits.
Insomnia tends to increase with age and affects about 40 percent of women and
30 percent of men. It is often the major disabling symptom of an underlying medical
disorder.
For short-term insomnia, doctors may prescribe sleeping pills.
Most sleeping pills stop working after several weeks of nightly use, however,
and long-term use can actually interfere with good sleep. Mild insomnia often
can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits (see "Tips
for a Good Nights Sleep?-Sleep hygiene). For more serious cases of insomnia,
researchers are experimenting with light therapy and other ways to alter circadian
cycles.
| Definition
Sleep disorders involve any difficulties related to
sleeping, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, falling asleep at inappropriate
times, excessive total sleep time, or abnormal behaviors associated with sleep
| | Causes,
incidence, and risk factors
More
than 100 different disorders of sleeping and waking have been identified. They
can be grouped in four main categories:
" Problems with falling and staying
asleep
" Problems with staying awake
" Problems with adhering
to a regular sleep schedule
" Sleep-disruptive behaviors
PROBLEMS WITH FALLING AND STAYING ASLEEP
Insomnia includes any combination of difficulty
with falling asleep, staying asleep, intermittent wakefulness and early-morning
awakening. Episodes may be transient, short-term (lasting as long as 2 to 3 weeks),
or chronic.
Common factors associated
with insomnia include: - Physical
illness
- Depression
- Anxiety or
stress
- Poor
sleeping environment such as excessive noise or light
- Caffeine
- Alcohol or
other drugs
- Use
of certain medications
- Heavy
smoking
- Physical
discomfort
- Daytime
napping
- Counterproductive
sleep habits:
- Early
bedtimes
-
Excessive time spent awake in bed
Disorders
include:
- Psychophysiological
insomnia (learned insomnia)
- Delayed
sleep phase syndrome
- Hypnotic-dependent
sleep disorder
- Stimulant-dependent
sleep disorder
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