Most people will experience difficulties
in falling asleep or having sleepless nights from
time to time occasionally, however, this is not insomnia.
Insomnia is It is a disorder of initiating or maintaining
sleep, resulting in interference with your ability
to function efficiently the next day. Studies with
animals have shown that prolonged insomnia may interfere
with the body's growth and repair functions. The signs
of insomnia include difficulty in getting to sleep
and awakening during the night or early in the morning.
Insomniacs can be relaxed as can be
but yet still cannot get a good night's sleep. This
is due to the weakness in the sleep system. Insomnia
can also be due to stresses felt or pressures experienced
during our daily lives. Aging seems to affect our
sleep system as well, making us have more difficulty
in sleeping throughout the night or staying awake
for the whole day. There is also insomnia associated
with medications, alcohol, drugs or restless legs
(see Restless Legs Movement).
Experts have classified insomnia into three types
according to their causes and its duration, namely
transient, short-term and long-term.
Foreword
