Insomnia Facts and Statistics
We’ve all experienced sleepless nights at some point. If you find that it has taken a toll on your life more often than not, you may have insomnia. Insomnia is defined by have persistent problems falling and/or staying asleep. It’s actually a very common health condition that is diagnosed in more than 3 million cases per year in the United States alone. It’s also common to wake up throughout the night and not be able to fall back to sleep. This can cause other health issues on the body and can make it harder to complete daily tasks. Many patients with chronic insomnia find that it affects their work causing a lack of concentration and motivation.
Insomnia Causes
There are many reasons why one may be experiencing insomnia. To treat insomnia, it’s important to understand why it is occurring in the first place. A mental condition such as anxiety can cause a person to become agitated, stressed, and even fearful when the body is trying to relax. In other cases, stress from other things in life can make it difficult to fall asleep. For a mental illness or condition, treating those specific illnesses through a psychiatrist in the form of medication or therapist could be enough to eliminate or alleviate insomnia issues.
Technology Can Interrupt Sleep Patterns
Most people today tend to use their phone while in bed. This is an issue for a number of reasons. Using your phone before bed may require you to think more about whatever it is that you’re reading or watching thus requiring your brain to stay awake. Another factor is the artificial light. When it’s dark, your brain will release melatonin which is natural receptors in the brain that signal it’s time for sleep. If you’re eyes detect light, it will not signal the brain for sleep. Your activity levels should be taken into consideration as well. Those who are relatively sedentary usually have excess energy and have a harder time falling asleep. Many who have insomnia find that getting plenty of exercise help with falling and staying asleep.
Insomnia Medication Alternatives
For most, adjusting your lifestyle and doing other things such as avoiding caffeine are often enough. Some people, however, find that all the changes will have little to no effect on their insomnia. For these types of situations, a medication may have to be added to the equation. There are over the counter remedies such as melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally made in the body but sometimes isn’t made in a high enough dose to get a good night’s rest. Taking melatonin as a supplement can increase sleep duration and usually work in as little as 20 minutes. It’s recommended to talk with your doctor about your options and if any other supplements or medication is right or safe for you.
There is also research being done into using CBD to treat insomnia and made other diseases and illnesses. Research shows that CBD has many medicinal properties which are extremely effective at treating and preventing many diseases such as cancer, epilepsy, indigestion and others. Additionally, it has shown to greatly improve sleep quality when used. There are many websites online where you can order a CBD tincture to give it a try and see if it can help alleviate your insomnia.
