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Sleep Issues, Disorders
Sleep issues affect almost all of us at one point or another in our lives. However, for a small minority, getting a good night's rest is not as easy as it seems. Those who consistently have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep suffer from insomnia. Reasons for Insomnia There are various reasons why someone may lack sleep. The most common reasons are medication, depression or anxiety, jet lag or travel related environmental changes and, stress. Insomnia may be transient, short-term or chronic. Transient insomnia rarely lasts for more than a week and is normally caused by changes in the environment such as altitude or by stress. Short-term insomnia, on the other hand, may come about as a result of ongoing stress or due to medication and/or the side effects of medication. It may last for up to three weeks. Medications that may trigger sleeplessness include; caffeine, decongestants, tobacco, alcohol, appetite suppressants, diuretics and anti-depressants. Withdrawal from some drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, antihistamines, alcohol, amphetamines and anti-depressants may also trigger insomnia. Chronic insomnia is a serious condition characterized by a perennial inability to achieve deep sleep. OTC sleep aids are not recommended for the treatment of chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia requires a detailed medical investigation to determine the reason for sleeplessness. It is important to get to the root of the problem where one suffers from transient insomnia before it progresses to short-term insomnia and even turns chronic. The reason for this is that sleeplessness is not a disease on its own but rather a symptom of a deeper underlying problem. OTC sleep aids treat the symptom, but the real problem often remains unresolved. Learn more about How Can I Sleep Better? Learn more about different OTC sleep aids Back to Health Topics homepage
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