Insomnia – causes, clinical symptoms, diagnostics. How to Treat Insomnia?

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Insomnia is a disturbance of the normal rhythm, depth and duration of sleep and wakefulness. Sleep is usually shallow and restless, it does not give the feeling of complete rest. The condition may be short-term or persistent for a long time. Usually, insomnia is accompanied by strong emotional tension that arises in stressful situations.

In the past, the phenomenon of insomnia was associated mainly with the elderly, nowadays problems with sleep are observed in younger and younger people. Research shows that every third Pole visits a doctor with the problem of chronic insomnia. Currently, this type of ailment is no longer treated only as a symptom accompanying other ailments, but as a separate disease entity that requires comprehensive treatment in a specialized center for sleep disorders.

The main causes of insomnia

The general concept of sleep disorder is quite broad, although there are several major disorders, the most common of which is insomnia. In addition to insomnia, the following are also relatively often diagnosed:

1. snoring and apnea,
2. excessive sleepiness (e.g. due to illness),
3. narcolepsy, i.e. uncontrolled attacks of sleepiness at unexpected moments,
4. nightmares and night terrors,
5. somnambulism,
6. night cramps of the legs.

If you are unable to fall asleep unexpectedly, it may be an illness or a negative influence of some factors. It is for this reason that it is very important to find the cause of your sleep problems. Thanks to a detailed interview with the patient, professional help and treatment is possible. There are various causes of insomnia:

1. external: the influence of factors such as heat, bright light, noise or change of time zone,
2. somatic: the occurrence of ailments that disturb sleep, e.g. night urgency to urinate,
3. psychotic – associated with depressive disorders and various types of fears, delusions,
4. neurogenic – including damage to the nervous system and its disturbed functioning,
5. psychogenic – a strong emotional state, stress, conflicts with other people,
6. toxic and iatrogenic – insomnia may appear after drinking alcohol or certain medications; caffeine is also important,
7. primary – that is, difficult to grasp.

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In adults, insomnia is most often associated with mental disorders and depression. Psychophysiological diseases are ranked second, followed by the discontinuation of centrally active preparations, e.g. sleeping pills, sedatives. Thus, the problem of insomnia may have various causes. One thing is certain – insomnia effectively prevents everyday functioning during the day, because the lack of an adequate dose of sleep makes us irritable and makes us feel worse.

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The risk of insomnia is mainly:

1. in women after menopause,
2. shift workers,
3. in people diagnosed in the past with depressive disorders,
4. in the elderly.

Insomnia – clinical symptoms

People with insomnia not only find it difficult to fall asleep, but also to keep it asleep. Very often they wake up too early and their sleep is of very poor quality, making rest almost impossible. In order for the problem of insomnia to be treated as abnormal, it should interfere with the functioning during the day and last for a minimum of a month. The diagnostic criteria for insomnia are: the frequency of symptoms and the duration and impact of insomnia on daily life.

Based on the International Classification of Diseases and Health Problems, insomnia (sleep disorders) is divided into inorganic and organic not related to diseases of the nervous system. Another division (American Classification of Mental Diseases and Disorders) divides insomnia into primary and secondaryaccompanying other diseases. Yet another breakdown covers the duration of symptoms.

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Chronic insomnia, which lasts longer than a month, usually has a psychological background (anxiety, depression) and occurs in somatic diseases, including hormonal disorders. Insomnia is a problem that also occurs in people who abuse alcohol. Rarely, sleep problems are of a primary nature. In turn, occasional (a few days) and short-term (up to four weeks) insomnia is most often a response to stress (e.g. problems at work, at school, in a relationship) or a consequence of a change in lifestyle.

Symptoms of insomnia occur in 30-50%. surveyed adults. About 20% of people have symptoms at least three times a week or all the time, while about 28% of respondents assess the symptoms as moderate or severe. Symptoms accompanying insomnia disturb the daily functioning during the day in about 15% of respondents.

Diagnosis of insomnia

The diagnosis of insomnia is mainly based on finding the cause of this state of affairs. For this, it is necessary to assess the general health condition, which is made by a doctor based on the medical history. During the visit, the patient’s blood pressure is measured and (in some cases) periodic tests and an ECG are recommended. In a situation where, after examining the patient, his somatic condition does not indicate the cause of insomnia, mental disorders in a psychiatric office are subsequently ruled out. After ruling out the psychological factor, the doctor pays attention to the patient’s lifestyle and suggests a sleep diary. Only after obtaining all the most important information is it possible to implement appropriate treatment.

For people in whom finding the cause of insomnia did not give any results, consultation with a specialist sleep disorder clinic is recommended. During a visit, a group of specialists looks at slightly rarer causes, such as restless legs syndrome.

During treatment, it is also worth mentioning the factors that perpetuate the problem of sleep disorders:

1. lack of physical activity,
2. taking naps during the day
3. spending time in bed for a long time,
4. taking sleeping medication too often
5. drinking alcohol before going to bed
6. force falling asleep,
7. constant fear of what the next night will look like,
8. reflecting too often on the quality of your own sleep.

Eliminating the above factors is essential for insomnia to go away. As an aid, you can reach for healing herbs, e.g. Good sleep – a natural herbal mixture of Lorem Vit, which includes, among others lemon balm leaf, narrow-leaved lavender flower and valerian root.

In cognitive behavioral therapy, the most important things are:

1. Adequate sleep hygiene – in order to keep it, you should: refrain from consuming caffeine 6 hours before the planned sleep; avoid strong light in the evening, e.g. from the computer screen; avoid smoking and drinking alcohol in the evening; eat light meals before going to bed and limit fluids before consumed; avoid excessive physical exertion three hours before planned bedtime; keep to a constant rhythm of going to bed and getting up in the morning.

2. Shortening the time of sleep.

3. Controlling the stimuli by: going to bed only when we feel very sleepy; using the bed only for sleep and sex (avoid reading or watching TV in bed); getting up in the morning at fixed times, no matter how late we went to bed; avoiding short naps during the day. These recommendations are intended to help you reconnect your bed with sleep and sleepiness. Weighted blankets are recommended for sleeping, as they help to relax and calm down, and improve the quality of sleep. For the set, we recommend the Profiled orthopedic pillow that remembers the shape of the Standard Pillow for adults and the Children’s orthopedic pillow, the profiled Baby Dream, for the younger ones.

Pharmacological treatment mainly includes the use of sleeping pills and sedatives, antidepressants and antipsychotics. It is worth trying catnip herb, which has relaxing and relaxing properties. In addition, it is recommended to use over-the-counter remedies available at a pharmacy, such as lemon balm (eg, lemon balm sleep syrup) or valerian. In Poland, hypnotics and benzodiazepine derivatives are the only drugs registered for the pharmacological treatment of insomnia. In the case of short-term and accidental insomnia, zolpidem, zopiclone and zalepion are used. Intermittent use of sleeping pills prevents a person from getting used to their effects, thanks to which they have a positive effect on sleep. Thus, the risk of addiction is reduced. Benzodiazepine derivatives, apart from their hypnotic properties, also have a negative effect: they worsen memory and impair coordination of movements. They should not be given to people over the age of 65 because they are at risk of worsening memory and lapses, and in people who are addicted to alcohol.

Angelica, which can be drunk in the form of an infusion, for example prepared from dried Angelica Root, is helpful in the treatment of insomnia. You can buy a packet of ready-made dried fruit at Medonet Market.

Antihistamines, antidepressants and antipsychotics are not addictive and can be used for a long period of time. Especially antidepressants are used in the treatment of chronic insomnia, but they should be administered in smaller doses and a few hours before the planned sleep.

Antipsychotics (e.g. quetiapine, olanzapine, promethazine) taken in low doses help to treat insomnia. Especially in addicted patients and patients with mental disorders. Taking these drugs is considered further because they cause a number of side effects, such as weight gain, tremors, stiffness and low blood pressure.

Over-the-counter preparations (e.g. herbal medicines) are treated as a substitute for sleeping pills when insomnia is a result of stress and does not persist for a long time. You can use ready-made herbal teas, such as Bright Mood Bio Yogi Tea, which has a calming and mood-boosting effect. Then it will be easier for you to fall asleep. Also try the all-natural Harmonix 500 ml dietary supplement, which helps you fight sleep problems, as well as stress and anxiety.

1. avoiding short naps during the day,
2. avoiding stressful situations and stimuli in the hours leading up to sleep, e.g. controversial, stormy discussions, watching films that cause stress or act exciting. Avoiding drinking alcohol, coffee and strong tea before going to bed,
3. relieving tension and stress with sedatives or taking sleeping pills; however, they should be used occasionally and not too late (no later than between 20:00 and 21:00), which will ensure the expected sleep in the natural night period and the drug expires in the morning.