Primary insomnia (difficulty sleeping)

General or Other | General Practice | Primary insomnia (difficulty sleeping) (Disease)


Description

Primary Insomnia is an individuals report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by a polysomnopraphic of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two elements difficulty sleeping or difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Thus, insomnia is most often thought of as both a sign and a symptom that can accompany several sleep, medical, and psychiatric disorders, characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep or sleep of poor quality. Insomnia is typically followed by functional impairment while awake.

Causes and Risk factors

One definition of insomnia is difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep, or nonrestorative sleep, associated with impairments of daytime functioning or marked distress for more than 1 month. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly. Primary insomnia is a sleep disorder attributable to a medical, psychiatric, or environmental cause.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Behavioral changes can alleviate the disorder including: (1) avoiding caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine before bed, (2) dont take daytime naps, (3) eat regular meals and avoid large meals near bedtime, (4) exercise early in the day, (5) do not stay in bed if sleep does not occur in 10 minutes, (6) have a regular time to go to bed, (7) create a comfortable and quiet sleeping environment, and (8) use the bed only for sleep or sex. Medications (zolipidem, zaleplon, eszopiclone) can be prescribed for persistent insomnia. ...