Insomnia will cause you to have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and feeling rested, which can last anywhere from a few days to a few months. Because of irregular sleeping habits, insomnia can have adverse effects on your body throughout the day when you are awake. As the problem continues and your body begins to adjust to not sleeping while in your bed, chronic insomnia will set in.
Insomnia Side Effects
- Trouble falling asleep
- Waking up early
- Inability to focus
- Impairment of motor functions
- Overall clumsiness
- Problems with memory
- Headaches
- Depression
- Anxiety
Side effects and symptoms are those one would experience from any kind of sleep deprivation, such as always feeling tired and having to drag oneself throughout the day. People with insomnia will likely have an inability to concentrate and focus on tasks properly, as well as have trouble with their short term memory. Impairment of motor functions is also likely, leading to poor coordination and overall clumsiness.
Insomnia can lead to some physical pain as well. Not being able to sleep properly can cause constant headaches. It can also cause stomach aches and disrupt your digestive system. Additionally, insomnia can take a toll on your mental state as well. Sleep deprivation and a worsened mood can lead to depression, anxiety, or a tendency of being annoyed easily.
It is important to identify the cause of your insomnia early to be able to treat any adverse effects it has on you. If you do not take any action and insomnia gets worse, it can become a chronic issue and be much harder to cure. You will be able to find a list of possible causes, as well as treatments for insomnia, throughout this site.
Insomnia is a very common sleep disorder among millions of adults all around the world. The reason it is so common is that there are so many possible causes of insomnia, which can affect you for as little as a few days to as much as six months.
Primary insomnia is the sleep disorder that is not the side effect of another underlying physical or mental condition. Some possible causes of primary insomnia are:
- Stress – Any stressful problems at work, school or home can linger and cause trouble sleeping. Any family emergencies or crisis’s, such as going into debt or dealing with a death in the family may also cause problems.
- Traveling – More specifically, traveling over different time zones can cause jet lag, which can be very disorienting to your regular sleeping patterns. Also, a change in the environment can affect you until you are properly acclimated.
- Caffeine – Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you up and prevent you from falling asleep. Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and soda, should not be consumed close to the time when you want to go to bed.
- Medications – Similarly, many medications contain stimulants that may not allow you to fall asleep. Also, taking a diuretic before going to sleep can cause you to awaken frequently through the night to go to the bathroom.
- Alcohol – Although alcohol is a sedative, it will also prevent the later stages of sleep. This can cause you to have trouble staying asleep and to not feel rested when waking.
- Sleeping Conditions – Perhaps there is too much noise or too much light (especially in urban areas) where you try to sleep that is disrupting your sleep. Another possibility is if your bed is just too uncomfortable.
Secondary insomnia (also known as comorbid), is the disorder that is a symptom or side effect of another medical condition. Causes of secondary insomnia are:
- Clinical Depression – Chemical imbalances due to depression can cause a person to have a lot of trouble sleeping.
- Asthma – People that have trouble breathing may find it affect their normal sleep schedules.
- Other Sleep Disorders – Sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome are other sleep disorders which can lead to the side effect of insomnia.
- Chronic Pain – Medical conditions, such as arthritis, which cause chronic pain can also regularly interfere with a good night’s rest and trigger insomnia as well.
Continue reading about insomnia side effects here.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that prevents a person from getting adequate sleep. More specifically, there are many types of insomnia that can cause trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and feeling rested, for any amount of time. As a result, irregular sleeping habits will cause a person to have trouble functioning while awake as well. Insomnia is a very common sleeping disorder among adults, children and seniors. It is estimated that about 4 out of 10 adults are affected by troublesome sleeping patterns.
People can experience insomnia effects during any stage of a normal sleep cycle. One can have difficulty falling asleep at night, possibly due to stress or anxiety disorders. Those suffering from other medical conditions may experience insomnia that causes them to wake in the middle of the night several times, and then have trouble going back to sleep. Finally, one can find themselves waking up much earlier than they would normally want – this condition is often linked to clinical depression.
Insomnia can also be characterized by the length of time of the disorder. Transient insomnia will last for less than one week. It is usually caused by temporary stress factors, such as jet lag or a change in sleeping schedules. Short term insomnia lasts anywhere from one week to four weeks. It is usually the result of a change or problem that lingers for a while in one’s life, such as a mid life crisis, overbearing debt, or having to deal with a death in the family. Lastly, there is chronic insomnia that lasts for more than four weeks. It is often associated with another underlying medical issue – treating that condition will help towards ending chronic insomnia. It is best to see a doctor if suffering from short term insomnia and treat it before it can turn into a chronic problem.
Insomnia is also classified whether or not it a symptom of a separate medical condition. Primary insomnia is when a person has trouble sleeping without any other health conditions. A person with secondary insomnia has an underlying medical condition that is the root of the insomnia. For example, illnesses and other sleeping disorders, such as asthma and sleep apnea, can disrupt sleep cycles.
Insomnia is a very common disorder that affects millions of people. If left untreated, insomnia can potentially lead to many physical, emotional and psychological side effects of insomnia that can severely sap your energy on a daily basis.