Insomnia: causes, symptoms, treatment

Alla Borisovna also sang "Go away, please insomnia, I want to forget him." In fact, many suffer from this insidious beast. For some, this is a temporary phenomenon, while for others it is a curse for life. This article will tell you what kind of ailment insomnia is, why it occurs and how it can be overcome.

Insomnia symptoms

Insomnia is a disturbance in sleep, its quality or quantity. Lack of sleep can result in overwork, exhaustion of the nervous system and serious disruptions in the body.

Insomnia is of the following types:

1. Short-term.
2. Transient.
3. Intermittent.
4. Chronic.

Below will be described in detail its types and how to deal with them.

How to recognize this dangerous beast? Very simple. The sleep of a person suffering from this ailment lasts no more than 5 hours. Including all phases. And it is constantly interrupted for unknown reasons. Also, a sick person has the following visual signs:

• excessive pallor;
• difficulty falling asleep;
• constant anxiety during the light sleep phase;
• life dysfunction caused by disturbed sleep patterns;
• puffiness, especially under the eyes;
• apathy and lethargy;
• redness of the white of the eye.

Insomnia causes

Anything can lead to insomnia, from our own thoughts to an insolent mosquito squeak over the ear. And to establish the exact cause of the disease, it is worth contacting a specialist. Do not allow the development of the disease, it can harbor much more serious health problems. Do not assume that sleep disturbance will go away on its own and in general it is not a serious thing.

The following factors can cause sleep disturbance:

1. Nervous exhaustion.
2. Taking medications that affect the nervous system or an excess of alcohol / caffeine.
3. Disorders of the somatic or nervous systems.
4. A heavy meal before bedtime or vice versa - an empty stomach.
5. Hormonal disbalance.
6. Limb cramps.
7. Asthma, ulcer, migraine, angina pectoris.
8. Depression or more complex mental disorders.
9. "Primary insomnia" - sleep disturbance caused by the growth of the body and the restructuring of the nervous system. Inherent in adolescence.
10. Extraneous noise, change of bed.

Sleep disturbance in general has a detrimental effect on the well-being and health of the body. But it can turn into an attention disorder or the appearance of hallucinations in the future. Which undoubtedly puts life at risk.

Types of insomnia

Short-term insomnia is common. Almost everyone has episodic sleep disturbances. It occurs, as a rule, as a result of nervous exhaustion or a failure of the regime. This condition lasts no more than 3 nights and goes away on its own.

Transient insomnia is understood as a sleep disorder that occurs systematically every 10-14 days and lasts no more than 2 nights. As a rule, it is caused by mental or nervous disorders, medication.

Intermittent insomnia occurs spontaneously, lasts up to 5 nights and has the risk of becoming chronic. Which is dangerous because sleep disturbance becomes cyclical and regular. That cannot but affect the general well-being of the body.

In addition to the above types, there are other symptoms of insomnia:

• early awakening is characteristic;
• problems with falling asleep prevail;
• general anxiety during sleep;
• acute (up to 3 weeks);
• chronic (from 1 month);
• adaptation - arises as a result of new factors;
• "Fear of sleep", after long-term insomnia, there comes a period when a person wants to sleep, but cannot relax.

How to deal with insomnia

It is possible and even necessary to fight any disease. For mild cases of discomfort, try traditional medicine. Use the tips below:

1. Do not eat before bed. The last meal should be at least 3 hours before bedtime. And shouldn't include eating fried, salty or fatty foods.
2. Avoid stress before bed or difficult mental work. Make a rule for yourself - be sure to carry out relaxation procedures before going to bed.
3. Take a course of soothing tea. It includes decoctions of soothing herbs. Such as mint, chamomile, string, valerian, primrose. They will unload the NS, reduce pressure, and calm the gastric tract.
4. Remember the benefits of an evening promenade. Be sure to take some leisurely walks in the fresh air shortly before bed. For at least half an hour.
5. Strengthen the nervous system, lean on foods rich in B vitamins - eggs, liver, cottage cheese, kefir, beans, spinach, fish.
6. Do not watch thrillers and horror films before going to bed. Watch a light comedy, or better - read a good book.
7. Make your bedroom a place of increased comfort.
8. Try aromatherapy for maximum relaxation before bed. Put a couple of drops of oil on the aroma lamp, if not, drop it on a cloth and put it in the bedroom. The following oils are well suited for this purpose:
   • lavender;
   • bergamot;
   • mint;
   • Melissa;
   • thyme.

Insomnia treatment

I would like to immediately draw your attention to the fact that the abuse of sedative and hypnotic drugs is addictive. As a result, it will make you dependent on drugs, and they will help less and less. Remember that sleeping pills are strictly contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women, people with respiratory diseases and those who need clarity of thoughts and a good reaction in the morning.

Be sure to try herbal remedies and only after them move on to potent medicinal products. Do not postpone a visit to a specialist. In therapy for insomnia, all treatment takes place in courses from 3 days to 2 weeks.

Sedatives are available without a doctor's prescription, such as:

• corvalol, valocordin, valerian, motherwort;
• tanakan, aspirin and other drugs that improve blood circulation in the brain;
• adaptogenic, producing restful sleep hormones.

Please note that all medicines have side effects. The risk of their occurrence can be minimized only by using the smallest dosage of the drug.

The following procedures must be present in the therapy against insomnia:

1. Massage. Soothes NS, normalizes blood flow. Combine well with aromatherapy.
2. After the massage, it is good to take relaxing water treatments, lie down in a warm bath with a decoction of fragrant herbs.
3. Application of low-frequency current pulses to relax muscles and brain.
4. The magnetic field helps to improve the functioning of the blood vessels.
5. Treatment with a special drug Dorsonval. Its principle is to ionize the air. As a result, small blue lightning bolts appear that act on sensitive points on the skin.
6. Acupuncture.
7. Electrophoresis.

Cure for insomnia

First of all, eliminate nervous irritability, stress and overeating. After - carefully examine your health. After all, sleep problems can talk about much more serious problems in the body.

Be attentive to your health, do not postpone the visit to the doctor and do not be nervous about trifles.