Chronic insomnia is one of those sleep disorders, which affects the quality of life. Statistics shows that one third of Americans are facing the threat of chronic insomnia. The sleeplessness is usually classified into different categories, based on its period of constant occurrence.
Insomnia
Of these, chronic insomnia is the most severe kind, which lasts consistently for a lengthy time period, say one month or longer. It’s apparent that insomnia doesn’t result any lethal difficulties, but it affects the normal functioning of an individual and results in decreased productivity. On the basis of the reason for occurrence, chronic insomnia is categorized into primary insomnia and secondary insomnia.
Primary insomnia is due to private ill-effects, whereas secondary insomnia is caused as a complication of any outside disturbances like drugs, environmental reasons, and psychiatric problems. The general causes of insomnia include poor sleep hygiene, stress, depression, hormonal imbalance, and circadian rhythm disorders.
Most often, chronic insomnia isn’t a disease of its own but a symptom of more serious physiological and psychological ailments. The people suffering from the diseases such as allergy, asthma, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), rheumatologic complaints, neurodegenerative diseases, endocrine disorders, kidney failures, and restless leg syndrome are more likely to get affected by the disease.
Take into account
The behavioral disorders like excessive use of alcohol, caffeine, and drugs may also result in insomnia. As a result of biological specialties, women and older individuals are more vulnerable to the risk of chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia affects the mental stability of a individual and weakens the immune system. It shows the symptoms like nausea, difficulty, anxiety, impaired concentration, lowering thinking capacity, and deteriorates decision making abilities.
Chronic insomnia will increase odds of accidents while driving and can result in a lot of serious clinical manifestations. Chronic insomnia feature problems in a sound sleep, such as reduced sleep period, regular wake ups at the center of the sleep, and daytime symptoms of irritability and sleepiness. Somebody has to seek the aid of a doctor, if he encounters any of the conditions like lack of sleep in tired conditions, only light sleep nightly which contributes fatigue on awakening, and waking up quite early.
Physician will diagnose the disease, with the support of certain questionnaires like the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Multiple Sleep Latency test is the diagnostic tool to support chronic insomnia. A specialist physician will focus to learn underlying motive for chronic insomnia. Chronic insomnia is often a curable disorder.
Final note
Early diagnosis and appropriate medication will help for rapid healing. Physicians generally suggest hypnotics for treating insomnia. The typical prescriptions for chronic insomnia include benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepines, and antihistamines. The behavioral therapies like stimulus control, progressive muscle relaxation, paradoxical intention, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral treatment, and light treatment are suggested in some cases of chronic insomnia. The natural herbals like Valerian root, Kava kava, and melatonin are practiced in different treatment as remedies for chronic insomnia.