Insomnia
- Insomnia Overview
- Insomnia Causes
- Primary Sleep Disorders
- Insomnia Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Insomnia Treatment
- Non-medical treatment and behavioral therapy
- Medical Treatment
- Medications and Medical Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
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- Viewer Comments: Insomnia - Describe Your Treatment
Insomnia Overview
Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time or another in their lives. An estimated 30%-50% of the general population are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia.
Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. By definition, insomnia is "difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both" and it may be due to inadequate quality or quantity of sleep. Insomnia is not defined by a specific number of hours of sleep that one gets, since individuals vary widely in their sleep needs and practices. Although most of us know what insomnia is and how we feel and perform after one or more sleepless nights, few seek medical advice. Many people remain unaware of the behavioral and medical options available to treat insomnia.
Insomnia is generally classified based on the duration of the problem. Not everyone agrees on one definition, but generally:
- symptoms lasting less than one week are classified as transient insomnia,
- symptoms between one to three weeks are classified as short-term insomnia, and
- those longer than three weeks are classified as chronic insomnia.
Statistics on Insomnia
Insomnia affects all age groups. Among adults, insomnia affects women more often than men. The incidence tends to increase with age. It is typically more common in people in lower socioeconomic (income) groups, chronic alcoholics, and mental health patients. Stress most commonly triggers short-term or acute insomnia. If you do not address your insomnia, however, it may develop into chronic insomnia.
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Insomnia
Benzodiazepine Abuse Overview
Benzodiazepines are a type of medication known as tranquilizers. Familiar names include Valium and Xanax. They are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States. When people without prescriptions take these drugs for their sedating effects, then use turns into abuse.
- Doctors may prescribe a benzodiazepine for the following legitimate medical conditions:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Seizure control
- Muscle relaxation
- Inducing amnesia for uncomfortable procedures
- Given before an anesthetic (such as before surgery)
- Anxiety
- Benzodiazepines act on the central nervous system, produce sedation and muscle relaxation, and lower anxiety levels.
- Altho...
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Insomnia »
Insomnia is defined as repeated difficulty with the initiation, duration, maintenance, or quality of sleep that occurs despite adequate time and opportunity for sleep that results in some form of daytime impairment.
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