Taking 30 minutes or longer to fall asleep at night suggests you have insomnia. “It’s possible that these people have so much going on that they might perceive symptoms of daytime fatigue as a result of other chronic health conditions or a busy schedule,” he says. “Most patients see me already knowing their diagnosis,” Meskill says.īut there are also some people who may not be aware that they have insomnia. In most cases, you know if you’re not sleeping well. Learn More About Acute and Chronic Insomniaĭetermining if you have insomnia usually isn’t difficult. These individuals need to work with a trained professional, and the sooner they bring someone on board, the more quickly they can stop problems from becoming even more severe and thus taking longer to solve. While acute insomnia can usually be solved without professional help, the same isn’t true for people with chronic insomnia. Individuals with chronic insomnia also report disruptions in their daytime functioning, including sleepiness, irritability, or anxiety, or difficulty paying attention, focusing on tasks, or remembering, Dr. Nowakowski says. ( 3)Īcute insomnia can still be a problem, however, because if ignored and not addressed it can lead to longer-term chronic insomnia.Ĭhronic insomnia is more severe and involves difficulty sleeping three or more days per week over the course of three months. But this insomnia is so short lasting that once the cause behind it disappears, you return to your normal sleep patterns. “Virtually everybody gets acute insomnia every once in a while,” Dr. Meskill says. Acute insomnia means you have trouble sleeping for only a short period of time, even if that means only for one night. More specifically, there are two types of insomnia: acute and chronic. Characteristics of insomnia include not being able to fall asleep, not staying asleep throughout the night, and waking up too early in the morning. Meskill, MD, a neurologist and sleep disorders specialist with the Tricoastal Narcolepsy and Sleep Disorders Center in Texas. “Insomnia means an inability to sleep,” says Gerard J. Unlike many other medical conditions, it has a relatively simple definition. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. What Is Insomnia: Defining Both Acute and Chronic Insomnia So how do you know if you have insomnia, and how do you treat it if you do have it? Read on to get answers to your most pressing questions. That’s why dealing with insomnia and getting the help you need is critical. When it comes to health, she adds: “Sleep is just as important as diet and other lifestyle behaviors.” Other consequences of insomnia include increased risk for psychiatric disorders and motor vehicle accidents. “Epidemiological studies show that lack of sleep is associated with obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, even Alzheimer’s,” says Sara Nowakowski, PhD, a clinical psychologist and sleep researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. RELATED: How Much Sleep Do You Really Need Each Night? If you’re not getting the slumber you need, you could be putting your health in jeopardy. Those numbers are worrying because sleep is one of the foundations of good health. Estimates suggest approximately 10 percent of adults suffer from chronic insomnia, and between 15 and 35 percent of adults suffer from some level of short-term insomnia lasting anywhere from a few days to up to three months. If you struggle to sleep, you’re not alone. RELATED: What Happens to Your Body and Your Mind When You Don’t Sleep And it’s the repetitive nights of continued sleep woes that are the biggest drain on the body and brain. But one or two nights of bad sleep can easily turn into a persistent problem. ( 1) In and of itself, a night or two of bad sleep isn’t a critical problem. Now multiply that one bad night by weeks, even months, and it’s easy to understand why insomnia can take a tremendous mental and physical toll on people.īy definition, even having just a few restless nights of sleep qualifies as a bout of insomnia. You know how awful one night of bad sleep can make you feel.
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