This form of insomnia is characterized by ongoing difficulty sleeping three of more nights a week for over a month and lasts for at least six months. Conversely, chronic insomnia plagues one-in-ten adults. Acute insomnia lasts less than four weeks and can be linked to a specific cause such as stress or trauma. 33% of adults suffer from acute insomnia, characterized by fitful sleep lasting a few days at a time. One of the most common sleep complaints, insomnia leads to sleepiness during the day, general tiredness, irritability, and problems with concentration or memory. Disruptions in the body’s normal sleep-cycle can result in bouts of acute or chronic insomnia. Further, melatonin produced by the brain's pineal gland during the night. Hormone levels fluctuate with cortisol secretion highest during the morning testosterone production peaks in the morning, growth hormone at night. Similarly, sodium excretion and urine output are normally higher during the day than at night. For example, normal body temperature is lowest at about 5 a.m., when it averages 97° F, and highest at about 5 p.m., when it averages 99.4° F. Sleep-wake cycle and several other bodily functions cycling throughout a day. Incredibly complex, the body responds to a 24-hour circadian rhythm, responding to cycles of light and darkness. Sleep requirements change during the course of a lifetime most children need more sleep, most older adults, less. While most middle-aged people function best on seven to nine hours of sleep, primary importance is on the quality, not the quantity, of sleep one experiences. The two states continue to alternate, with four to six 90- to 110-minute cycles occurring during the course of a typical night's sleep. After about 30 to 45 minutes, sleep shifts back from REM to the non-REM pattern. The sympathetic nervous system is active, stimulating production of the stress hormone adrenaline. Although the body is entirely relaxed, the heart rate and blood pressure fluctuate from low to high the heart pumps less blood to the body but more to the brain. The brain is activated during this phase dreaming occurs only during REM sleep. Breathing is very slow and may even pause briefly. In contrast, the limb muscles are completely limp and immobile. Although the eyes remain closed, they move rapidly in all directions. Sleep then shifts into REM phase after about 45 to 60 minutes. During non-REM sleep, the mind and circulatory system slow down as heart rate and blood pressure fall breathing slows and steadies and muscles relax. Non-REM sleep transitions gradually from light sleep (Stage 1) to deep sleep (Stage 4). Those experiencing optimal sleep fall asleep quickly, usually within 15 minutes. Sleep is divided into two major phases: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep. Ī highly complex function, sleep is essential for health and life, providing rest and restoration for mind and body. Thus, sleep disorders account for an estimated $16 billion in medical costs each year, plus indirect costs due to missed days of work, decreased productivity, and other work-related economic factors. Chronic, long-term sleep disorders affect millions of Americans each year. Further, insomnia lessens physical coordination leading to a higher likelihood of falling or having a road accident. Even in the short term, insomnia causes difficulty concentrating and lowers cognitive ability. Excessive daytime sleepiness characteristically results in functional impairment throughout the day. These actions lead to one becoming chronically tired insomnia depletes one’s energy level, mood, health, work performance and quality of life. This common sleep disorder can make it difficult to fall asleep or remain staying asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep. Often debilitating, insomnia is exhibited with one or more of the following behaviors: Approximately 70 million Americans sleep poorly, and for more than half, it's a long-term problem. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average American adult gets 6.9 hours of sleep on weeknights and 7.5 hours on weekends. Insomnia is a sleep disorder which is characterized by an inability to initiate or maintain sleep.
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