The term insomnia literally denotes a complete lack of sleep. It is, however, used to indicate a relative inability to sleep that consists of difficulty in falling asleep, difficulty in staying asleep, early awakening or a combination of any of these complaints. Insomnia deprives the person of mental rest and thereby interferes with his activities in the day time. It constitutes a severe health hazard when it becomes a habit.
Sleep is a periodic state of rest for the body which is absolutely essential for its efficient functioning. It is the indispensable condition to the recuperation of energy. It gives relief from tension, rests the brain and body and a person wakes up in the morning fresh and relaxed. Sleep has been aptly called the ” balm of hurt minds and the most cheering restorative of tired bodies. ”
The amount of sleep varies within very wide limits from individual to individual. Normally, seven to eight hours of sleep every night is adequate for most people. Some, however, do well with four to five hours because their sleep is deeper and more refreshing.
Insomnia is common among the elderly for a variety of reasons. The sleep of the elderly is often punctuated by brief periods of wakefulness during the night. IN such cases it is the quality rather than the quantity which is most affected. With age, there is a gradual reduction of period of deep sleep. Sleep requirements also diminish with ageing. From nine hours of sleep per night at the age of 12 the average sleep needs decrease to eight hours at the age of 20 , seven hours at 40, 6 1/2 hours at 60 and 6 hours at 80.
Symptoms
Although difficulty in staying asleep is the most common type of insomnia, the single symptom that most frequently makes the onset of insomnia is the difficulty in falling asleep. The signs of pathological insomnia are dramatic changes in the duration and quality of sleep, persistent changes in sleep patterns, lapses of memory and lack of concentration during the day. Other symptoms are emotional instability, loss of coordination, confusion and a lingering feeling of indifference.
Causes
The most common cause of sleeplessness is mental tension brought about by anxiety, worries, overwork and overexcitment. Suppressed feelings of resentment, anger and bitterness may also cause insomnia. Constipation, dyspepsia, overeating at night, excessive intake of starches, sweets, tea or coffee and going to bed hungry are among the other causes.
Smoking is another unsuspected cause of insomnia as it irritates the nervous system, especially the nerves of the digestive system. Environment factors such as overcrowding, excessive noise and poor bedding or housing conditions may also lead to transient sleep difficulties. Often, worrying about falling asleep is enough to keep one awake.