Insomnia

Do you think you suffer from insomnia? Many people experience symptoms of insomnia without even knowing they have it. So what exactly is insomnia you may ask?  Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which individuals suffering from the disease have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Insomnia can be primary, meaning it is not directly associated with any other diseases, or it can be secondary meaning that the disease itself is caused by other health problems.

Insomnia can be acute, lasting for short periods of time, or chronic; lasting for long periods of time. Acute insomnia is caused by:
Significant life stress
illness
emotional or physical discomfort
environmental factors
medications that interfere with sleep
interference in normal sleep

Chronic insomnia is caused by:
depression and/or anxiety
chronic stress
pain or discomfort at night

Symptoms of insomnia can include the following:
sleepiness during the day
general tiredness
irritability
problems with concentration or memory
difficulty falling asleep at night or waking up often during the night
difficulty going back to sleep
waking up to early in the morning
feeling tired after waking up

If you feel you may be experiencing symptoms of insomnia you should contact your healthcare provider in order to get evaluated. There are also tips you may want to use in order to combat the problem. Here is a list of some of the tips to use in order to fight off your insomnia symptoms:

try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time everyday
avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day
exercise regularly
Dont eat a heavy meal late in the day
make you bedroom or sleeping space comfortable. (make sure its dark, comfortable temperature, no noises or distractions)
avoid using bed for anything other than sleep
if you can't sleep, get up and do something else until you feel drowsy
follow a routine before sleep. This could be reading a book, listening to music or taking a bath

College may be stressful, but you don't have to suffer with poor sleep. Make sure to take note of any sleeping issues you may have and if the symptoms become hard to deal with, get to your healthcare provider.


Reference

 Insomnia (Chronic and Acute Insomnia) Causes and Symptoms. (n.d.). Retrieved March 07, 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/insomnia-symptoms-and-causes