Sleep Dysfunction: a silent epidemic
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Early Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep
- Mid-Insomnia: Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
- Late-Insomnia: Waking up too early in the morning
- Functional Insomnia: Feeling tired upon waking
Primary insomnia is defined as sleep difficulty unrelated to a recognized health condition or problem.
Secondary insomnia is defined as sleep difficulty related or resulting from another medical condition or problem, such as asthma, pain, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn. Medication side effects and certain foods/beverages can cause secondary insomnia.
Insomnia can be short-term (acute insomnia) or can persist (chronic insomnia). Insomnia can be intermittent, as well
Insomnia is diagnosed as 'chronic' when it occurs for least three nights a week, and persists for a month or longer.
I will be posting suggestions for non-prescription diagnosis and treatment for this rather common disorder.
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