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INSOMNIA

Insomnia is a symptom which is very common in the community, 10% - 30% of the adult population in the USA suffers from insomnia for more than one consecutive month, and this state of insomnia is defined as chronic insomnia.

Insomnia affects the quality of life, reduces work productivity, insomnia is also related with a rise of consumption of other medical services by 40 %.

Insomnia also elevates the risk of being involved in a car accident by 2.5 – 4.5 times.

Sleeping pills is one of the treatments known for insomnia, they are considered to be a legitimate treatment for a temporary and passing state of insomnia , though there is a believe that is deep rooted among physicians that the temporary users of these sleeping pills will eventually become chronic consumers , will develop dependence to the pill , and will get addicted to them .

Many physicians submit pressure on their patients to avoid sleeping pills as a treatment for insomnia.

Though there weren’t any clinical studies made that showed the addictive potential of these drugs.

Another way of treating insomnia is cognitive behavioral treatment, CBT.

In the USA 3% of those who suffer from insomnia take sleeping pills.

When we say insomnia we mean trouble in falling asleep, waking up several times during the night, or waking up early, all these symptoms together or each one separately that occurs three times or more within a week .

There is a difference between temporary insomnia that can continue for up to one month, and chronic insomnia in which the symptoms stay for more than one month.

Insomnia is the result of over awake ness which interferes with the natural course of sleep. The reason for that over awake ness can be physical like irregular function of the thyroid gland , changes in sex hormones in women for example like pregnancy, post menopausal changes, menopause, drugs for lowering cholesterol levels (statins),

Pain or other illnesses, however the main reason for insomnia remains a mental reason.

dr. tareq .