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Insomnia

Orla Wilson
A sleep disorder where people have
trouble sleeping. They may have

Insomnia
difficulty falling asleep, or staying
asleep as long as desired. Insomnia is
typically followed by daytime
Also known as sleeplessness sleepiness, low energy, irritability,
and a depressed mood.
Medical Causes for Insomnia

There are many medical conditions (some mild and others more serious) that can
lead to insomnia. In some cases, a medical condition itself causes insomnia, while in
other cases, symptoms of the condition cause discomfort that can make it difficult
for a person to sleep.

For example:
● Asthma
● Nasal/sinus allergies ● Neurological conditions such
● Gastrointestinal problems such as reflux as Parkinson's disease
● Endocrine problems such as hyperthyroidism ● Chronic pain
● Arthritis ● Low back pain
Symptoms of Insomnia

Most adults have had some trouble sleeping because they feel worried or nervous,
but for some it's a pattern that interferes with sleep on a regular basis. The most
common and obvious symptom of insomnia is that you cannot sleep, but other
consequences of this disorder include:

● Tension
● Getting caught up in thoughts about past events
● Excessive worrying about future events
● Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities
● A general feeling of being revved up or overstimulated
These include:

● Stroke

Increased risk
● asthma attacks
● Seizures

for medical
● weak immune system
● sensitivity to pain

conditions
● Inflammation
● Obesity
● diabetes mellitus
● high blood pressure
● heart disease
These include:
Increased risk ● Depression

for mental ● Anxiety


● Confusion and frustration

health
disorders
Insomnia can affect your:

● performance at work or school


● sex drive
● Memory
● Judgement

Increased risk The immediate concern is daytime

for accidents
sleepiness. A lack of energy can
cause feelings of anxiety,
depression, or irritation. Not only
can it affect your performance at
work or school, but too little sleep
may also increase your risk for car
accidents.
An analysis of 16 studies that covered
over 1 million participants and 112,566
deaths looked at the correlation between
sleep duration and mortality. They found
that sleeping less increased risk for death
by 12 percent, compared to those who

Shortened life slept seven to eight hours per night.

expectancy A more recent study looked at the effects


of persistent insomnia and mortality over
38 years. They found that those with
persistent insomnia had a 97 percent
increased risk of death.
Medical Treatments for Insomnia

There are many different types of sleep aids for


insomnia, including over-the-counter (non-
prescription) and prescription medications.

Major classes of prescription insomnia medications


include benzodiazepine hypnotics, non-
benzodiazepine hypnotics, and melatonin receptor
agonists.
Thank you

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