--- Title: Insomnia What is the disorder?: - Too little or poor quality sleep caused by: - Significant life stress - Illness - Emotional or physical discomfort - Environmental factors like: light, noise, extreme temperature - Some medications - Interferences in normal sleep: jet lag, switching from day to night shift - Chronic insomnia is caused by: - Depression or anxiety - Chronic stress - Pain or discomfort at night What are the symptoms?: - Difficulty falling asleep - Awakening during the night - Awakening too early - Not feeling well rested after a night of sleep - Daytime fatigue or sleepiness - Irritability, depression, or anxiety - Difficulty paying attention or focusing on tasks - Increased errors or accidents - Tension headaches - Gastrointestinal symptoms - Ongoing worries about sleep How common?: - Women are twice as likely to have it when compared to men - Certain social factors, such as being unemployed or divorced, may contribute to poor sleep - The time leading up to menopause (perimenopausal) causes trouble falling asleep; hot flashes and night sweats can disturb sleep as well - Insomnia increases with age - Affects millions of people in the United States How serious?: - Fragmented sleep causes health problems - Can result in lower performance at your job or work - Slowed reaction time while driving - You can become overweight or obese - Poor immune system function - Increased risk and severity of long-term diseases, such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes Sources: - http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/Insomnia.cfm - http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/insomnia/DS00187/DSECTION=complications - http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/24/content_6203913.htm - http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/articles/types-of-sleep-disorder/lack-of-sleep/insomnia.php