Insomnia is difficulty falling or staying asleep. In many cases, it can be relieved with a few simple behavioral changes. Sometimes, medication is needed but usually behavioral changes should be tried first.
Talk with your health care provider if any of the following symptoms occur often enough to affect your function during the day:
Here are some simple tips to get a better night's sleep:
Do something relaxing just before bedtime (such as reading or taking a bath) so that you don't dwell on worrisome issues. Watching TV or using a computer may be stimulating to some people and disturb their ability to fall asleep. If you can't fall asleep within 30 minutes, get up and move to another room and engage in a quiet activity until you feel sleepy.
One method of preventing worries from keeping you awake is to keep a journal before going to bed. List all issues that worry you. By this method you transfer your worries from your thoughts to paper, leaving your mind quieter and more ready to fall asleep.
See also: Sleep disorders
HOW MUCH SLEEP IS ENOUGH?
While 7 - 8 hours a night is recommended for most people, children and teenagers need more. Older people tend to do fine with less sleep at night, but may still require approximately 8 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. The quality of sleep is as important as how much sleep you get.
See also:
Sleep issues; Difficulty falling asleep
Updated by: Andrew Schriber, MD, FCCP, Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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