The term “insomnia” in today’s society generally means when someone doesn’t get a good night’s sleep. Of course, everyone has their own definition of what this means. In your case, insomnia might mean that you cannot fall asleep when you need to. On the other hand, some people equal insomnia with waking up during the night or never quite falling soundly asleep.
Technically speaking, there are two types of insomnia – primary insomnia and secondary insomnia. Common symptoms include waking up in the middle of the night, waking up too early in the morning, feeling tired after you have woken up and having difficulty sleeping at night.
Primary insomnia is simply when you are having sleep issues that are unrelated to anything else in your life. Secondary insomnia refers to sleep issues that are directly related to another problem, such as your inability to sleep because of stress, depression, pain, or worry.
The bad news is that if you do not treat it, insomnia can become a chronic or long-term problem. The result of this is that you may incur other health issues because of the lack of sleep. Many people who suffer from chronic insomnia also tend to be overweight, and will suffer from heart problems, too. Much of your overall health is directly related to the quality of your sleep, so dealing with your insomnia problem is very important.
But, some people suffer from acute insomnia, which usually occurs over a short period of time, such as a few nights or a few weeks. When you suffer from acute insomnia, you have a few more options as far as treatments go, such as sleep medications. The reason for this is you will not be using them on a long-term basis, so they are healthier to use.
There are so many causes of insomnia that it is surprising that any of us sleep at all. These days, it seems as if stress and depression are two of the most common reasons for why people cannot fall asleep or they wake up during the night. If you are not satisfied with your life, or you experience worry or stress, then you simply will not sleep well.
Also, if you are taking medications, then insomnia can often be a side effect of those. One common misconception is that alcohol can induce sleep, which is not correct at all. Chronic alcohol use, especially when combined with cigarette smoking, can make insomnia a lot worse, and can also trigger other problems like chronic snoring and sleep apnea.
Another issue that a lot of people have is the amount of light in their bedroom. Many of us sleep with our cell phone on our bed stand, or even in our bed. Studies have shown that any light in a room can disrupt your sleep, even when you are not aware of it. The small LED light on your television, your alarm clock, or your computer can disrupt your sleep whether you know it or not.
The most important note to make about insomnia is that the sooner you do something about it, the better your results will be. There is no need for you to suffer with lack of sleep for long periods of time if there is a solution for you. Your first step is usually to talk to a doctor, because they will help you identify exactly what the cause of your insomnia is. Then, you can start looking at different options that may be able to help you fall asleep quicker and sleep throughout the night, awakening in the morning feeling healthy and energetic.
Before you take another over-the-counter sleep medication that will make you drowsy at night and groggy the next day, it is worth trying one of the most popular natural medications on the market today. Alteril is a proven nutritional supplement that is commonly recommended by doctors and includes only ingredients that are safe and effective at helping you fall asleep and stay asleep.
The ingredients in Alteril include valerian, L-tryptophan, and melatonin, all of which have been proven to assist sleep without creating side effects. This product will not have complications with alcohol or other medications, and it will not create the same types of side effects that you often get with most sleep medications.
Right now, you can currently buy Alteril in some stores, but most people buy it online where you can get a better price. This is a product that you will want to take on a nightly basis, and one that can definitely not only improve your sleep, but dramatically improve the quality of your waking hours as well.
(Last Updated 4 June 2013)
1. Insomnia: Read Up on Causes (Accessed 4 June 2013)