Sleeping Disorders Insomnia

Among the various sleeping disorders, insomnia is one of the most common. Not many people are even aware that they suffer from this type of sleeping disorder. Insomnia is a sleeping disorder that is characterized by a person’s inability to stay asleep or fall asleep. There are two types of this condition that could affect a person. The first type is primary insomnia and the second is secondary insomnia. In the former category, the sleeplessness is not linked with any other medical problem. However, in the latter category, the sleeplessness is usually caused by some other underlying medical condition such as depression or asthma.

Sleeping disorders insomnia can also be broken down into a further two types based on the length of the condition. The first is acute insomnia. This is a condition that continues to affect the person for at least three weeks. Chronic insomnia is the other type that continues to affect the person for over a month or so. The causes as well as the symptoms of both the above mentioned forms of insomnia vary from each other. Mentioned below are some of the common causes of insomnia.

There are three major groups into which insomnia causes can be divided into. They are Medical problems, Psychological problems, and Intake of certain medication. Medical problems which can cause insomnia would include different types of cancer, asthma and similar other conditions. Psychological problems could be something like depression or even simple stress. Certain medicines also contribute to hampering a person’s sleep and could therefore be a cause of insomnia as well.  Stress could be a contributing factor for short term or acute insomnia while emotional problems, illnesses or heavy medication could be responsible for chronic insomnia.

Now that we have dealt with the common causes of sleeping disorders insomnia, let us take a look at the signs and symptoms of insomnia. One of the first and main symptoms of insomnia is having problems falling asleep. Waking up often in the middle of the night and having problems falling asleep again is another symptom. A feeling of tiredness upon waking up every morning is another clue that you might be suffering from insomnia. Feeling irritated, confused and sleepy during daytime are all signs of insomnia as well. Problems with concentration due to sleepiness are also another sign. Tension headaches, ongoing worries about sleep, anxiety, increased accidents or errors are other signs.

Natural Home Remedies for Insomnia

Insomnia can cause many health problems therefore it is necessary to deal with this problem straight away. It is important to determine the cause behind this sleeping disorder before treatment can be started. More often than not, stress is responsible for insomnia. If you can resolve the stress in your life, you might be able to start sleeping better. Many people are not opting for natural home remedies for insomnia, rather than pills. Read on to find out some natural ways to cure insomnia.

One of the best treatments for insomnia is trying to get to sleep at the same time daily. This will help in setting up the insomniac’s body clock. Lie in bed even if you have a problem falling asleep. Your body will slowly become accustomed to this set time of falling asleep. Milk is also one of the natural home remedies for insomnia. Have a glass of warm milk every night before getting into bed. Mix a tablespoon of honey in it for better results. Relaxation meditation techniques like yoga or a massage are also recommended for inducing sleep. Add a teaspoon of aniseed to boiling water. Drink this mixture as it also helps to bring on sleep. A warm bath before retiring to bed will help as well. Most importantly, compose yourself to sleep. Do not worry about what you have to do the next day. Free your mind from any tension.

Types of Sleeping Disorders

Before we talk about the different types of sleeping disorders, let us first define a sleep disorder. A sleep disorder is a condition or a disturbance that affects a person’s ability to fall asleep, stay awake or remain sleeping. The various types of sleep disorders can lead to other problems such as night terrors or sleep walking. The types of sleeping disorders can be categorized into primary sleeping disorders and secondary sleeping disorders. Given below are some of the most common sleep disorders that most people are known to suffer from.

1. Insomnia: This falls into the category of primary sleep disorders. Insomnia is the inability to stay asleep or fall asleep. This is one of most common types of sleeping disorders. This kind of sleeping disorder is characterized by the difficulties in falling asleep. Short term insomnia could be caused by stress, or any harrowing events/emotionally upsetting events in a person’s life. Chronic insomnia is when a person has experienced at least three months of poor sleep on most nights. Chronic insomnia may be related other types of sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome.
2. Sleep Apnea: This is a condition that causes a lack of sleep due to breathing problems. Most people who suffer with sleep apnea are unaware that they have it. A person may choke or gasp for air several times through out the night, but not be aware of the condition.
3. Restless Legs Syndrome: This is a chronic neurological disorder wherein a person experiences unpleasant sensations in the legs. This results in an irresistible urge to move the legs while lying down.
4. Narcolepsy: This is unexplained sleepiness at various times during the day despite adequate rest at night.
5. Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD): This disorder is characterized by periodic leg twitching that occurs during sleep. The movements caused by PMLD are involuntary.
6. Sleep terror or night terror: This affects children who often awake from sleep in a terrified state.

Symptoms of the sleeping disorders differ, depending on the type of disorder the person is suffering with. This can be seen from the information given above. For instance, sleep apnea symptoms are snoring but not every one who snores has sleep apnea. Causes of the sleeping disorder must be determined in order for treatment to be effective.

Natural Remedies for Sleep Disorders

There are many natural remedies for sleep disorders. A few of them are mentioned below.

• One of the best treatments for a sleeping disorder comes from lifestyle changes. Try and maintain a regular sleep schedule. Try to go to sleep at the same time daily – even on weekends.

• Make a mixture of roasted cumin seeds and a mashed ripe banana and eat this mixture after dinner. It can help you get a good night’s sleep.

• Mix one teaspoonful of honey with two teaspoonfuls of fenugreek leaf juice and drink this before going to bed.

• Reduce the intake of stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. If you are unable to limit your consumption of these, try to avoid them for at least 4-6 hours before going to sleep.

• Having a warm bath and reading for a short while is also believed to induce sleep.

• One of best natural remedies for sleep disorders is drinking a warm glass of milk before going to bed. Try mixing a spoonful of honey and adding a pinch of cinnamon as this works wonders as well.

Although effective, the above home remedies for curing sleep disorders may not be the same as medical treatment for sleep disorders. Do contact your physician if the above remedies fail to help you.