How long is insomnia considered abnormal?

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Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it difficult for a person to fall asleep or get enough sleep. This condition can last from a night to a few weeks or even a few months. If sleep deprivation is not improved, it can affect health as well as work productivity.

1. How long is insomnia considered abnormal?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have difficulty falling asleep or not getting enough sleep. This condition can be short-lived (acute) or it can last for a long time (chronic).
Acute insomnia: is a state of insomnia that lasts from one night to several weeks. Chronic insomnia is a condition when it occurs at least three nights a week and occurs for 3 months or more. There are two types of insomnia including primary and secondary.
Primary Insomnia: is insomnia where sleep problems are not related to any other condition or health problem. Secondary Insomnia: Difficulty sleeping due to health problems (such as asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer or heartburn), use of certain medications, or stimulant use ( like wine). Symptoms associated with insomnia include:
Drowsiness during the day Fatigue Irritability Problems with memory or concentration Therefore, insomnia is considered unusual when it occurs during the day. duration from a few weeks to several months and is accompanied by the above symptoms. If acute insomnia is not treated, it will progress to chronic and affect the patient's health and daily life.
MORE: Overview of persistent insomnia

2. The causes of insomnia

Causes of primary insomnia include:
Stress related to major life events, such as job loss or change, the loss of a loved one, divorce or moving home. Your surroundings such as noise, light or temperature. Changes to your sleep schedule like a plane delay, a new job, or bad habits you pick up when you have other sleep problems Secondary insomnia causes include:
Mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. It is used in the treatment of allergies, colds, depression, high blood pressure and asthma. Pain or discomfort at night. Use coffee, tobacco or alcohol. Hyperthyroidism or other endocrine problems. Other sleep disorders such as: restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea. Insomnia affects women more than men and older adults more than younger people. In addition, young and middle-aged African Americans are also at higher risk. In addition, risk factors for insomnia include:
Long-term illness Mental health problems Working night or rotating shifts MORE: Does prolonged sleep loss lead to psychosis?

3. Diagnosis and treatment of insomnia

To diagnose and treat persistent insomnia, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your medical and sleep history. They may ask you to keep a sleep diary for a week or two, tracking your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day. They can talk to your bed partner about how well you're sleeping. You may also have special tests at a sleep center.
Acute insomnia may not require treatment. If you have difficulty performing daily activities because of fatigue, your doctor may prescribe short-term sleeping pills. Medicines that work quickly but for a short time can help you avoid problems like drowsiness the next day. Do not use over-the-counter sleeping pills for insomnia. Because these drugs can have side effects and tend to work less well over time.
For chronic insomnia, you will need to treat conditions or health problems that are keeping you awake. Your doctor may also recommend behavioral therapy. This can change the things you do that make your insomnia worse, and learn what you can do to promote sleep.

4. How does insomnia affect the body?

The human body and brain need rest through sleep so they can repair themselves. Sleep is also important for learning and preserving memories. If insomnia is prolonged without intervention, it will cause a number of complications such as:
High risk of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and depression, .. High risk of falling. Difficulty focusing Worry Grumpy Slow reaction times can lead to traffic accidents

5. Measures to prevent insomnia

Maintaining a stable circadian rhythm as well as a good sleep routine can help prevent insomnia. In addition, some measures to prevent insomnia such as:
Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning. Try not to nap for too long during the day, as they can make it harder to fall asleep at night. Do not use electronic devices such as phones, televisions or e-books before going to bed. The blue light from these devices can make it harder to fall asleep. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol later in the day. Caffeine and nicotine are common stimulants and can make it difficult to fall asleep. Alcohol can wake you up in the middle of the night and reduce the quality of your sleep. Exercise regularly: try not to exercise near bedtime, as it can make it difficult to fall asleep. Experts recommend exercising at least 3 to 4 hours before bed. Do not eat many meals at the end of the day or eat too much in the evening. But before bed, having a snack can help you fall asleep. Make the bedroom space comfortable: dark, quiet, and not too warm or too cold. If light is a problem keeping you awake, use a sleeping mask to block out the light. If it's audio, try using earplugs, a fan, or a white noise machine. Do a relaxing bedtime routine like reading, listening to music, taking a bath, or meditating, etc. Do not use the bed for anything other than bedtime and sex. If you can't fall asleep and aren't drowsy, get up and do something calming, like reading until you feel drowsy. If you tend to lie awake and worry about everything, make a to-do list before bed. This can help you put your worries aside and be more comfortable before bed.

In summary, insomnia is considered abnormal when it lasts from a few weeks to a few months and is accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, daytime sleepiness, etc. If sleep is not improved early enough, it can affect your health as well as your work productivity. Therefore, make yourself a habit of maintaining a stable circadian rhythm, if insomnia occurs, go to a medical facility to find out the problem and have appropriate treatment.
Currently, to find the cause and determine the insomnia, Vinmec International General Hospital implements the sleep polysomnogram. This is a safe, non-invasive sleep disorder diagnosis similar to an electrocardiogram. The multi-sleep device is specifically designed to measure body activity during sleep, so it will help patients relax, pain-free while sleeping. The electrodes are glued to the scalp, near the eyes, near the chin, on the chest, near the nose and mouth....no pain. The patient is given a wireless transmitter and transmits the received signals to the server, without hindering travel. After the polysomnography was completed, the machine's electrodes were gently removed.
Through the indicators given by the sleep polygraph, it is possible to help doctors at Vinmec best diagnose different types of sleep disorders, know what kind of sleep disorder the patient is suffering from. for appropriate treatment. In particular, with the examination, consultation and treatment of a team of highly specialized neurologists, experienced in diagnosing and treating neurological diseases in general and sleep disorders in particular, will help you improve your sleep and have the best quality of life.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: webmd.com