

Try to go to sleep at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning.Good sleep habits, also called sleep hygiene, can help you get a good night’s sleep and beat insomnia. Techniques such as relaxation exercises, sleep restriction therapy, and reconditioning may be useful. Behavioral approaches help you to change behaviors that may worsen insomnia and to learn new behaviors to promote sleep. If insomnia continues, your health care provider may suggest behavioral therapy. Treatment for chronic insomnia includes first treating any underlying conditions or health problems that are causing the insomnia. Avoid using over-the-counter sleeping pills for insomnia, because they may have undesired side effects and tend to lose their effectiveness over time. Rapid onset, short-acting drugs can help you avoid effects such as drowsiness the following day. If your insomnia makes it hard for you to function during the day because you are sleepy and tired, your health care provider may prescribe sleeping pills for a limited time. Mild insomnia often can be prevented or cured by practicing good sleep habits (see below). Treatment for InsomniaĪcute insomnia may not require treatment. In some cases, you may be referred to a sleep center for special tests. Your health care provider may want to interview your bed partner about the quantity and quality of your sleep. You may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a week or two, keeping track of your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day. An evaluation may include a physical exam, a medical history, and a sleep history. If you think you have insomnia, talk to your health care provider. Interferences in normal sleep schedule (jet lag or switching from a day to night shift, for example).

Some medications (for example those used to treat colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma) may interfere with sleep.Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep.Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, moving).Insomnia is called chronic when a person has insomnia at least three nights a week for a month or longer. Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. It can also come and go, with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems. It can be short-term (acute insomnia) or can last a long time (chronic insomnia). Insomnia also varies in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. Secondary insomnia: Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition (like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn) pain medication they are taking or a substance they are using (like alcohol).Primary insomnia: Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem.There are two types of insomnia: primary insomnia and secondary insomnia. Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep.People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms: Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep.
