Insomnia Symptoms - Identifying Sleep Issues

Symptoms of Insomnia You Shouldn’t Ignore
 

Insomnia symptoms can range from trouble falling asleep to mood changes and slow reflexes. These can be caused by excessive stress, caffeine and nicotine consumption, and a bad sleep environment. Among different individuals, pregnant women are at the highest risk of developing insomnia.

Introduction

Are you experiencing restless nights and tired mornings? If so, then you may be experiencing one of the most common sleep disorders in the world. Insomnia is more than just occasional sleepless nights. Recognising the symptoms is crucial to managing the impact of insomnia on your life.

This blog will go in-depth into identifying insomnia symptoms and causes, while also discussing possible treatments.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition where people experience trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. These symptoms may seem harmless at first, however, repeated troubles are something to be concerned about.

You may experience either chronic insomnia (lasting a long time) or acute insomnia (lasting a brief period).

Types of Insomnia

Experts classify this condition into two types: Primary Insomnia and Secondary Insomnia.

• Primary Insomnia: This occurs independently and is not related to other diseases or conditions.
• Secondary Insomnia: This happens as a result of other diseases, such as arthritis, cancer, diabetes, or other conditions.
   

What are the Symptoms of Insomnia?

Sleep plays a vital role in keeping us healthy. It affects how you feel, think, and function throughout the day. Therefore, knowing insomnia symptoms and addressing them is essential to your health.

Since the condition affects your sleep and daily functions, its symptoms are divided into two categories.

Sleep Insomnia Symptoms

These symptoms occur when you have trouble sleeping. They are as follows:

1. Sleep Onset Insomnia: As the name suggests, this refers to difficulty falling asleep. This is one of the most important and common symptoms of this condition.
2. Maintenance Insomnia: This can be characterised by waking in the middle of the night.
3. Early Waking Insomnia: Many people with insomnia wake up earlier than usual. This symptom is often called late insomnia.

You may either face one symptom or all three symptoms together. Usually, people go through different symptoms throughout their lives as per their lifestyle of health and mental condition.

Daytime Insomnia Effects

Every adult needs at least 6 to 7 hours of sleep for the body to function properly. However, people with insomnia have difficulty fulfilling this criterion. This leads to symptoms to carry on and impact your daytime activities. They are as follows:

1. Slow Reflexes: This can manifest in several ways, especially if you are driving.
2. Confusion: Due to a lack of sleep, you may have trouble putting your thoughts together.
3. Mood Changes: You may become irritable and angry due to insomnia. In contrast, you may also develop anxiety and feelings of depression.
4. Fatigue: You are likely to experience feeling run down or exhausted.
    

Not addressing these symptoms can cause long-term health effects such as obesity, high blood pressure, stroke and coronary heart disease. If you face these symptoms for more than two weeks, you may have chronic insomnia symptoms. Consult a doctor for a better diagnosis.

Identifying the Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia can be caused by a myriad of factors, however, experts have yet to discover why it happens. That being said, let us explore what causes insomnia symptoms:

• Consuming caffeine and nicotine too close to bedtime can affect how your brain functions, preventing you from sleeping.
• Going through significant stress in your life, such as divorce, job or career problems or the death of a loved one.
• Symptoms of insomnia in females can be caused by fluctuating hormone levels and pregnancy.
• If your family has a history of sleep problems, you too may be affected.
• Sleep environment plays a significant role in how you sleep. If your environment has too much light or noise, you may find it difficult to sleep.
• Eating dinner right before bedtime can also affect your sleep cycle.

Apart from these primary causes, there are also some secondary causes related to this condition. Often, these causes stem from another disease. This is also called comorbid insomnia. They are:

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy or menstruation.
• Restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea is often connected with insomnia.
• Drug or alcohol abuse.
• Overactive thyroid gland or hyperthyroidism.
• Asthma, cold, allergy or depression medications may also cause insomnia.
• Cancer and other critical illnesses may also result in sleep deprivation, leading to insomnia.
   

Who is at Risk of Developing Insomnia?

Although anyone can develop insomnia, women are more likely to be affected than men. According to a study, approximately 80% of pregnant women experience this condition.

Some other risk factors are as follows:

• If you have a nightmare disorder or nocturnal panic attacks, you may be at higher risk of developing this condition.
• Age is a great risk factor. As people age, they become at risk for insomnia.
• Night shifts or rotational shifts.
• GERD (acid reflux disrupts sleep) and chronic pain.
• Domestic abuse or violence affects how you sleep as well.
• Mental health also plays a great role. If you suffer from depression or anxiety, you may exhibit insomnia symptoms.
   

Treatment Options for Insomnia

Fortunately, this is a highly curable condition involving at-home remedies and medications. Simple lifestyle changes coupled with medications can help you manage insomnia.

Lifestyle Changes to Treat Insomnia

This refers to changing how you function daily. Let us look at ways you can relieve your symptoms.

1. Maintain a Good Sleep Cycle: This includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Do not use any electronic device one hour before bed.
2. Eat a Proper Diet: Avoid eating heavy meals three hours before bedtime. Instead, opt for light snacks if you feel hungry.
3. Take Care of Mental Health: Practice yoga and meditation to clear your head before bed. If you feel depressed, seek a doctor to help with these conditions.
    

By implementing these methods, you may see improvements.

Medications to Treat Insomnia

Initially, your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills to help with your symptoms. However, they will not cure your insomnia. Combine them with lifestyle changes to see significant results.

Your doctor may also prescribe sedative-hypnotics, which slow down your brain activity and help you fall and stay asleep.

Some sleep medicines that are generally prescribed by doctors include:

• Benzodiazepine
• Melatonin receptor antagonists
• Nonbenzodiazepine
• Dual orexin receptor antagonist
   

Final Thoughts

Recognising insomnia symptoms is the first step towards improving your sleep and overall health. Taking action early can make all the difference in your life. If you identify with insomnia symptoms and causes, consult a doctor for further assistance.

Remember that quality sleep is not a luxury but a necessity, both for your physical and mental health.