Insomnia is More Than Missing Sleep

Signs Of Insomnia

Many Americans suffer some form of insomnia, the most common types of insomnia transient, intermittent, or chronic. Many people suffer insomnia a few nights a week once or twice a month due to stress; stress can encompass many things both positive and negative. A person should consider the possibility that they may be suffering from insomnia if they find that they are unable to fall asleep, wake up frequently during sleep, wake early and are unable to return to sleep or wake up after sleep still feeling tired.

Stress Induced Insomnia

Stress induced insomnia or transient insomnia is thought to be the most common type of insomnia; many Americans find it difficult to fall asleep occasionally because of a promotion, an upcoming vacation, planning a party, meeting out of town relatives or any other variety of reasons which cause that person stress.

Intermittent Insomnia

Intermittent insomnia can be very frustrating for a person who suffers from it; they may have problem sleep for three nights in a row, and have normal sleep for weeks before trouble sleep returns. Intermittent insomnia may be eased by using over the counter remedies such as antihistamine.

Chronic Insomnia

Chronic insomnia affects the fewest number of people who suffer at all, however chronic insomnia can lead to serious conditions or be a symptom of more serious illness. Chronic insomnia can lead to brain degeneration and eventually death if the case is severe enough.

The early signs of possible lasting effects of chronic insomnia include headaches, feeling abnormally fatigued even after sleeping, depression, short term memory loss, and even more serious effects are possible.

Related diseases

Some related diseases are familial chronic insomnia and fatal chronic insomnia; both are a form of insomnia which kill their victims after years of sleep deprivation. It isn't the sleep deprivation in it self that kills, it is the brain degeneration which occurs due to the lack of sleep; the brain degeneration is known to scientists by the presence of prions.