subject: Treatment for Insomnia [print this page] Treatment for Insomnia Treatment for Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder whereby the patient faces difficulty in falling asleep and remaining asleep. Insomnia includes an array of sleep disorders involving quality and quantity of sleep. The condition may last from few days to many months and years, depending upon its type. The disorder may be transient or temporary, acute or short term and chronic or even long term.
Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia can occur due to a number of physiological and psychological reasons. Chronic insomnia often occurs due to the presence of certain medical conditions. Transient insomnia on the other hand may be caused by a stressful life event. Various causes of insomnia include:
Medical conditions arthritis, asthma, brain tumors and lesions, chronic fatigue and pain, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, GERD, hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, stroke and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases
Medicines antidepressants, stimulants, medications for heart, blood pressure, weight loss, allergy, decongestants, antihistamines, ephedrine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and some antibiotics
Interruption in circadian rhythm jet lags, changes in working shifts, experiencing high altitudes, presence of noise, too hot or cold temperatures
Smoking, alcohol, drug usage and caffeine consumption
Other factors pregnancy, changes in estrogen and other hormone levels during menstruation, genetic conditions, sleeping next to someone who snores, an overactive mind
Effects of Insomnia
Insomnia affects millions of people every year. According to some estimates, 32 million people suffer from insomnia in America alone, which takes its prevalence rate up to 11.76% for the country. Not only sleep pattern disturbances are included in the effects of insomnia, but it also affects the general health and the overall quality of the sufferer's life. Common effects include reduced energy level, fatigue, inability to concentrate, blurred vision, irritability, and sometimes even hallucinations.
People at higher risk for insomnia include travelers, shift workers, alcoholics, drug users, older people, pregnant and menopausal women, students, adolescents and young adults and people with mental disorders.
Insomnia Medications
Whereas transient insomnia resolves itself when the cause is eliminated, many people seek medical help for chronic insomnia. While both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments are used, prescribing sleep drugs to insomnia sufferers is a common practice.
According to estimates, about 20% of American adults use some form of prescription or non-prescription drugs to aid sleep. Various insomnia prescription drugs include benzodiazepines, non- benzodiazepines and antidepressants. These drugs have a number of unpleasant side effects.
While prescription drugs for insomnia generally produce symptoms like dizziness, headaches and fatigue. They can also produce rather worrisome symptoms including respiratory problems, severe allergic reactions, urinary incontinence, gastrointestinal disturbances and disturbed heart rhythm. The user can even become addictive to these drugs. Whereas, NightCalm is a 100% natural sleeping supplement containing 5HTP, melatonin and various other sleep aiding ingredients.
An Effective Insomnia Treatment
An effective insomnia treatment involves the right diagnosis and understanding of the precise trigger of it and then using a safe insomnia aid in consultation with your doctor.
The 5-HTP causes of insomnia linked to reduced serotonin levels in the body are often underestimated. Reduced serotonin levels lead to insomnia among other conditions. Taking 5-HTP based supplements can prove to be very effective in such cases.
If you want to avoid the side effects and addiction of prescription drugs, use NightCalm, which contains 200 mg of 5HTP among other sleep inducing herbs.
