INSOMNIA OVERVIEW

What is insomnia 
Insomnia is a sleep disorder which effects people at some point in their lives. It increases with age and illnesses such as cancer etc. It is also known as the difficulty staying asleep or falling asleep, even when a person has the chance to do so.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF INSOMNIA 
Insomnia may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as cancer, asthma, heartburn, arthritis etc. However, there are many signs and symptoms that are associated with insomnia:
. sleepiness during the day.
. difficulty falling asleep.
.  feeling tired upon waking up.
.  general tiredness.
.  problems with memory or concentration.
.  waking up too early in the morning.
. irritability, anxiety, or depression.

TYPES OF INSOMNIA 
There are two types of insomnia: primary and secondary insomnia

1. PRIMARY INSOMNIA : this is when the person is having sleep problems that are not associated with any medical condition.
2. SECONDARY INSOMNIA : this is when disease condition or medical problems cause difficulty in sleeping. These disease conditions are depression, asthma, arthritis, and cancer.

CHARACTERIZATION OF INSOMNIA ACCORDING TO DURATION 

1. Transient insomnia : this occurs when difficulty in sleeping last up to three nights.
2. Acute insomnia : this is also known as short-term insomnia. It tends to resolve without treatment. It happens because of life circumstances for example when you can't sleep a night to the exam and can last for weeks.
3. Chronic insomnia : this chronic insomnia is as a result of shift work, change in the environment, and certain medical condition. Chronic insomnia can last for months even years.

CAUSES 
. emotional, physical discomfort, and pain.
. depression or anxiety.
. chronic stress. interference with normal sleep schedule.
. environmental factors like noise, extreme temperature, and light.
. hormones.
. sleeping next to a snoring partner.

DIAGNOSIS 
A sleep specialist or a physician will start by collecting the patient's clinical or medical history. After that, a physical exam may be conducted to look for possible underlying conditions. The patient may be asked to keep track of his/her sleep diary for a week or two in order to know his sleep patterns.

TREATMENT 
There are two different approaches to treating insomnia: pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.

Non-pharmacological
.practice good sleeping habits.
. avoid caffeine and nicotine.
. get regular exercise

Pharmacological 
Medical treatment for insomnia include:
Antidepressants.
Sleeping pills (prescribed)
Ramelteon
Melatonin
Antihistamines.


RISK FACTORS 
People who are more likely to experience insomnia include:
Menopausal women.
Travellers
Elderly people
Users of illegal drugs
Young adult students or adolescents
Pregnant women
Those with mental health problems.