Insomnia

Insomnia is a common disorder. One in 3 adults occasionally has insomnia. Women are twice as likely to suffer from insomnia than men. One in 10 adults has chronic insomnia, and it can occur at any age. However, older adults are more likely to have insomnia than younger people. People especially prone to insomnia include those who are:

Under a lot of stress
Depressed or who have other emotional distress
Working at night or having frequent major shifts in their work hours
Traveling long distances with time changes (jet lag)
Sometimes perimenopausal (the time leading up to menopause) women have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep; hot flashes and night sweats often can disturb sleep. Pregnancy also can affect how well a woman sleeps.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Insomnia?

The main symptom of insomnia is trouble falling and/or staying asleep, which leads to lack of sleep. The lack of sleep can cause others symptoms, such as:

Waking up feeling tired or not well rested
Feeling tired or very sleepy during the day
Having trouble focusing on tasks
Feeling anxious, depressed, or irritable

Key Points

Insomnia is a condition in which you have trouble falling or staying asleep. It is a common condition that can cause daytime sleepiness and lack of energy.
There are two types of insomnia: secondary and primary. Secondary insomnia is the most common type. Secondary means that the insomnia is a symptom or a side-effect of some other problem. Primary insomnia is not a side-effect of another problem, and it generally persists for 1 month or longer.
Insomnia that lasts for more than 1 month and is present at least 3 nights a week is called chronic insomnia. Insomnia that lasts for less than 1 month is called short-term or acute insomnia.
Chronic insomnia is a serious problem that can affect your mood, safety, and performance at work or school. If insomnia continues for a few weeks, see your doctor.
Secondary insomnia often goes away or improves without treatment if you can eliminate its cause.
Your doctor will usually diagnose insomnia based on your medical history, sleep history, a physical exam, and a sleep study if the cause of your insomnia is unclear.
Lifestyle changes, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and sleep medicines can be used to treat insomnia.

Sleep medicines can help treat insomnia, but these medicines may make you feel groggy after you wake up, especially if you don't get 7 to 8 hours of sleep.