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Tips To Beat Insomnia

Sleeplessness, or 'insomnia', is a condition where an individual sufferers from an inability to sleep. Derived from the Latin word 'Somnus', insomnia is often described as a sign and/or symptom of a variety of physical and psychiatric conditions, and is characterised by a lack and poor quality of sleep. People who suffer from insomnia regularly complain of functional impairment when awake, stating that their reaction times and ability to concentrate are severely compromised. Furthermore, insomnia can occur at any age, but elderly people are the most affected.

There are three different types of insomnia that either have short term or long term effects. Short term insomnia can last up to three weeks, and has the potential to lead to memory problems if the symptoms aren't treated. Long term insomnia is where you are having trouble sleeping for over three weeks, and if left untreated, can cause depression, an increased risk of heart disease and irritability.

Types of Insomnia

Transient insomnia is usually caused by external factors like changes to sleep environments, and usually lasts for less than a week. Its consequences are similar to those of sleep deprivation, and it can also impair psychomotor performance.

Acute Insomnia is diagnosed when an individual in unable to consistently sleep for less than a month, and problems still occur in the present of optimal sleeping conditions. This type of insomnia is related to stress, and can also be caused by uncomfortable sleeping conditions. If you think your mattress is contributing to your insomnia, have a look for the latest double divan beds for a much better night's sleep.

Chronic Insomnia lasts for longest period of time, sometimes months on end, and can cause a number of physical and mental ailments. Sufferers complain of hallucinations, muscular fatigue, and mental illness, and some have even said that they see things in slow motion.

How To Combat Insomnia

As insomnia is becoming more common due to pressurised lifestyles in society, a number of treatments have become available as well as suggestions on how to combat the condition. If you're having trouble sleeping and you have a busy week ahead, it's best to make a habit of writing down the important things you need completed at work. Insomnia has the ability to cause memory loss, and the last thing you want is for your lack of sleep to affect your professional career.

If you like to keep fit, it's best that you switch to exercising in the morning rather than the evening. Exercising near to bedtime will keep you awake for longer, so it's best to get your workout in the morning when you're fresh and energetic. Furthermore, ask your doctor for mild sleeping pills if you tend to wake up in the middle of the night. Many sufferers of insomnia state that they have no problem getting to sleep but wake up for no reason in the night, unable to get back to sleep.

Finally, some people are unable to sleep unless there is some sort of distraction in the background, like a television or radio. If you are having trouble sleeping, try playing some relaxing and soft music while you're settling into bed. Studies show that music has the ability to relax the mind, leaving it much more able to reach deeper stages of regeneration during sleep.