Insomnia is a condition that affects sleep. Millions of people suffer from its effects every night. There are several types of insomnia. Some of these can be easily diagnosed and treated, while others require intensive medical or mental health resources to come to bear to find the root of the problem. There are cases where insomnia has been fatal. Lack of sleep for prolonged periods of time increases stress hormone levels in your body. Your blood pressure rises and your risk of cancer, heart disease, and many other illnesses are present. Your body requires 6-hours of sleep minimum, with an optimal number of eight hours of sleep per night to function normally and stay healthy.

The Dangers Of Drowsy

If you are in a line of work that demands your attention to detail, insomnia can kill you. Those who have received blood borne pathogens training know how important it is to be alert when working around contagious people, blood, and equipment. Even operating a motor vehicle can be dangerous for someone who suffers from insomnia. The US government is looking into laws that correlate the amount of sleep you have to driving. If your blood level readings indicate a lack of sleep, you could face fines that are akin to dinking and driving sometime in the near future. That is how serious it is being taken. There are several types of insomnia.

– Primary Insomnia: This type of insomnia involves no underlying cause. It is treated as a sleeping disorder. While it is not fully understood, some people have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or reaching a healthy level of sleep.

– Secondary Insomnia: This sleep disturbance has an underlying cause. It is a symptom of another illness, whether physical or mental and is treatable as such.

– Chronic Insomnia: This type of insomnia lasts more than one month. It is caused by chronic depression, chronic pain, anxiety, sleep apnea, or various other chronic maladies. There are hundreds of over the counter medications on the market today that can either help or contribute to the problem.

– Lifestyle Insomnia: There are many people who lead a lifestyle that dictates insomnia. These people do not seem to understand that caffeine, alcohol, prescription drugs, and even food are all a factor in how we sleep. Their very lifestyle prevents them from getting good nights sleep.

A Change Of Habit

There are things that we can do that will help us to get sleep. Here are a few things you can try if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

– Stay away from energy drinks and caffeine, especially at night.
– A regular exercise routine will help you sleep as long as you do not exercise within two hours of your bedtime.
– A warm bath can help to make you drowsy.
– A regular routine at bedtime that includes rituals designed to make you sleepy, like reading at night, can help you to develop a habit of sleeping.
– Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol before bedtime.
– Do not nap during the day.

Keep A Journal Of Success

Maintaining a diary of your sleep patterns can help you to determine what routine works best for you. Once you have ascertained what activities lead to a better nights sleep, stick with it. You might also try a memory foam mattress topper for your bed to make yourself more comfortable at night.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: sleep patterns ,drowsy,chronic depression,US government ,Insomnia,mental health