Insomnia is a sleep deficit disorder. A person suffering from insomnia fails to get sleep or maintain consistency in the sleep pattern. Most of us have experienced insomnia some time or the other, and know how tiresome and frustrating it is to be unable to sleep when the world is enjoying sleep. Even when an insomniac strives hard to sleep, sleep evades him or her. Insomnia may be a temporary phenomenon induced by sudden stress or anxiety, but there are some who experience this curse night after night. They stay wide awake all through the night, and even if they fall asleep, they wake up frequently. People getting less than 4 hours of sleep night after night are grouped as insomniacs. Insomniacs may experience the following consequences:
1. Extreme fatigue
2. Lethargy
3. Depression
4. Stress and anxiety
5. Headaches
6. Confusion
7. Lack of concentration
8. Hallucinations during day
9. Irritability
10. Dizziness
11. Impaired memory
12. Rapid loss of weight.
Insomnia may be transient, acute or short-term and chronic. When a person is incapable of sleeping for a night or few weeks, it is referred to as transient insomnia. When he or she fails to sleep for about more than 3 weeks, it is acute insomnia. If sleep does not come for a period longer than a month, it is chronic insomnia. Deliberate avoidance of sleep however is not insomnia. Women are gripped more by insomnia than men.
Common Causes of Insomnia
1. Sleep apnea or interrupted breathing pattern during sleep.
2. Jet lag
3. Aging of body
4. Changes in work shift
5. Changes in sleeping pattern
6. Frequent naps during day
7. Smoking
8. Excessive caffeine intake
9. Going to bed hungry
10. Depression
11. Stress and anxiety
12. Sexual dissatisfaction
13. Disruptive sleep events like nightmares, sleep walking, restless leg syndrome.
14. Gastro esophageal reflux or acid reflux disease.
15. Hyper-thyroidism
16. Arthritis pain
17. Frequent urination due to diabetes
18. Fear or phobia
19. Traumatic injury
20. Mania of any kind
21. Impact of medications.
Home Remedies for Insomnia
1. One may extract 30 grams of milk fro poppy seeds, mix sugar with it and take an ounce every night before going to bed. This is a beneficial home remedy for insomnia
2. Taking a spoonful of nutmeg powder before sleep would help us to sleep better.
3. A cup of warm milk with honey is a sleep inducing drink.
4. A mixture of mashed banana and roasted cumin seeds may be taken after dinner. It is an effective insomnia remedy.
5. Orange leaf tea or orange juice sweetened with honey is a cure for insomnia.
6. A glass of milk, mixed with honey and a pinch of cinnamon powder before going to bed helps one to sleep better.
7. Two teaspoon honey in a glass of warm water also treats insomnia effectively.
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