INSOMNIA

Every night around 10 PM I will feel sleepy. I will get sleep within 15 minutes and sleep for about 3 hours. Thereafter I will not get sleep. My mind will be visiting so many scenes from TV serial and life incidents. If I take a sleeping pill I will have sound sleep for 6 hours but in daytime sleepiness will continue. I started collecting information on insomnia and present them here for the benefit of others.

A healthy man needs minimum six and half hours sleep including small break for urination. Causes for insomnia are many. Use of any stimulant, withdrawal from anti-anxiety dreugs, heart disease, restless leg movements, hormone changes during mensuration, menopause, fear, anxiety, stress, noise and constipation are a few factors.

Cortisol, a steroid hormone is released according to the level of stress and blood sugar. It is a stress hormone as well as an awakening hormone. When present in large quantity it causes insomnia.

 

Potential complications of insomnia

Lower levels of estrogen, a female sex harmone, after menopause will cause change in sleep pattern. Progesterone, a sex hormone responsible for mensuration, pregnancy and embryo formation also will affect normal sleep pattern.

Going to sleep and awakening at the same time every day will develop a sleep pattern and avoid sleepless nights. Avoiding heavy exercise and coffee a few hours before going to bed will prevent insomnia. Cognitive behavioural therapy which aims at changing the thought process in patients suffering from insomnia is found to be more effective than medication. Moreover the benefits attained last longer even after treatment period.

Non pharmacological treatment provide long lasting relief to patients suffering from insomnia. The main thrust is in sleep hygiene, stimulus control, behavioural intervention, patient education and relaxation therapy.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy  is found to be superior to medication therapy. In this therapy patients are taught improved sleep habits and relieved counter- productive assumptions about sleep.