Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night? You’re not alone. According to the American Sleep Association, almost 70 million people in the United States have a sleep disorder. One of the most common ones being insomnia. If you have trouble sleeping at night, it could be due to several factors, including insomnia.
Research shows that approximately 50 percent of adults experience insomnia. But, insomnia isn’t as simple as it may sound; this sleeping disorder has various types that not many people know about. Here’s everything you need to know about insomnia and how it can be treated:
What Is Insomnia?
Let’s begin with the basics; insomnia is a common sleep disorder in which people find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. This leads to daytime sleepiness and a lethargic feeling throughout the day affecting your mood and work productivity. It’s more prevalent in women and older adults. This sleep disorder can last for a few days but even stretch out to weeks and months. In women, stress and menopause are two common triggers for insomnia.
What Are The Different Types Of Insomnia:
While there are many types of insomnia, the most common ones are acute, chronic, maintenance, and behavioral. Here’s everything you need to know about each type:
1. Acute Insomnia
This is the most common type of insomnia and is also known as adjustment insomnia. Acute insomnia can last for a few days but even extend to a month or so. There are several reasons for this type of insomnia including, new surroundings or environment, extreme temperatures, a hard mattress, stress from a new job or class, moving to an unfamiliar place, excessive light and noise, jet lag, death, or illness in the family or friend circle, relationship problems, medications, allergies, and pain or bleeding.
If any of the above factors relate to you, it’s best to book a consultation with a doctor right away to get a suitable treatment plan.
2. Chronic Insomnia
If your sleeping pattern is disturbed for more than three days per week for a month, this means your insomnia is chronic. Now, chronic insomnia is divided into two categories, i.e., primary and secondary. Primary chronic insomnia is also referred to as idiopathic insomnia. There is no apparent reason or medical condition for this. The more common type is secondary insomnia, which is called comorbid insomnia. This is usually coupled with another condition.
Some causes of chronic insomnia are:
- Medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism
Mental health problems including depression and anxiety
Medications such as drugs for chemotherapy and antidepressants
Excessive intake of caffeine and stimulants like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs
3. Maintenance insomnia
This is when you might find it hard to stay asleep, wake up early and fall asleep again. Maintenance insomnia is usually caused by psychological conditions like stress, depression, and anxiety or chronic medical conditions such as asthma and other respiratory conditions. Other causes of maintenance insomnia are allergies, restless leg syndrome, and chronic pain.
4. Behavioral Insomnia of childhood
This can be treated with behavioral therapy. You can begin by creating a healthy sleep routine or adapting relaxation techniques.
How is Insomnia Treated?
At GetCareMD, we usually use a multi-disciplinary approach. Our treatment plans include:
- Amitriptyline
Mirtazapine
Trazodone
Doxylamine
Diphenhydramine
Get in touch with our experienced, certified, and reliable virtual doctors online. At GetCareMD, we strive to provide high-quality online healthcare services for patients with all kinds of chronic, psychological, and common conditions. Whether it’s weight loss, hypertension, cholesterol control, anxiety, or even acne- we cover it all! Get in touch with us to learn more about our services.
