It is 3am and I cannot sleep for the fourth night running, insomnia, the dreaded illness that contributes to our long nights and tiring days. It is an extremely common disorder affecting over 50 million people in the US alone, with incidence increasing with advancing years. It is thought that one out of three people will suffer from this disorder at some point in their life.
So what causes insomnia, and why do some many people suffer from it? The main reason there are so many sufferers is due to the lifestyle and associated stresses of today.
Causes:
Certain medications and illicit drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines act as body stimulants and prevent us from sleeping. It is a well known fact that drug abuse is on the increase and this with it brings sleep disorders.
Hormonal changes. Before menstruation and during the menopause levels of reproductive hormones change dramatically upsetting our sleeping pattern.
Stress. Probably the biggest cause of insomnia. Everyone has stresses in their life, from health problems, to financial problems, work problems and family problems. Each one of these worry us, and when we go to bed at night they are still on our mind and this keeps us awake. The problem then of course is exaggerated the next day as lack of sleep tends to cloud your judgement, making you more likely to make mistakes and add to the stress. It is a vicious circle.
Depression. People with depression are thought to have a type of insomnia which makes them wake up very early every morning reducing their daily number of sleeping hours.
Upsets to sleeping patterns through shift work. I have this complaint, and along with stress it has really messed up my body clock. When you work all night and then go home the next morning and try to sleep you cannot as your body thinks it is ‘daytime' and you should be up and about. Then when it comes to bedtime that night it is impossible to sleep as your body thinks you should be working again. Horrible!
Neurological disorders and medical conditions such as overactive thyroid gland also contribute to sleeping problems.
There is also a fatal form of insomnia which has a genetic base.
Possible Treatments
The good news is that there are many different treatments available including prescription drugs and psychological techniques. However there are disadvantages to all of these as is expected with drug use.
Sleeping tablets including drugs such as Sonata. These have been shown to help people get more sleep per night and have also helped people get to sleep sooner. However there are problems with side effects such as headaches and dizziness and of course the possibly of addiction. It is probably best to try natural methods first.
Benzodiazepines such as temazepam. These can lead to problems with drowsiness during the day which is not good for those that drive vehicles or work in highly skilled jobs. Secondly after finishing a course of the drug you may end up with worse insomnia, called rebound insomnia.
Cognitive behavioural therapy. This focuses on changing your behaviour and thoughts towards sleep and has shown some benefits for helping some people get more sleep.
Exercise has also been suggested to help you sleep better.
There are several other treatments under investigation such as melatonin, but the effectiveness and side effects of this drug need to be evaluated further. There is a great deal of hope for those with insomnia and the future looks promising for finding a suitable cure.
