Ask an Insomnia Specialist Online

WHAT IS INSOMNIA?

Insomnia is basically defined as a condition in which one experiences difficulty in falling asleep or in maintaining a proper sleep cycle.

It is one of the most common sleep disorders seen in India with more than 10 million cases being reported every year.

Women and older people have a higher prevalence rate. Besides, it is also quite common amongst the corporate sector where there are stressful working conditions, excessive coffee intake and smoking.

WHAT CAUSES INSOMNIA?

Sleeplessness is majorly due to underlying mental health conditions such as Anxiety-which causes trouble in falling asleep. Depression also leads to trouble in staying asleep and waking up abruptly.

Poor Sleep habits are also responsible for insomnia. These can include:

Excessive coffee intake.
Smoking
Alcohol-even though temporarily it induces sleep, it disrupts the REM-NREM pattern of the sleep cycle and leads to insomnia in the long run.
Having heavy food/spicy food and carbonated drinks at bed time. They interfere with the digestive process and leads to heart burn and thus, disturbed sleep.
Having daytime naps for more than 30 mins.
Using cellphones, laptops and other tech devices, which emit a blue light that is known to disrupt melatonin production (a Sleep hormone).

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF INSOMNIA?

Insomnia is basically being sleep deprived. Should you find yourself tossing and turning in bed, unable to catch a wink of sleep, or experiencing uninterrupted sleep, then ask a doctor for advice.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?

Get into a proper sleep hygiene cycle and maintain such habits mentioned. Maintaining a sleep and awake cycle is very important for your body clock as it adjusts to the natural rhythms pf nature and helps you to easily fall asleep at night.
Try to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
Exercising daily helps drastically. It can be doing a simple exercise like a 15 min aerobic workout. Try and avoid strenuous workouts at night.
Exposure to adequate sunlight during the daytime.
Try having chamomile or lavender tea at night.
Reading books and having a lukewarm water bath at bedtime helps.
Treatment of underlying medical conditions like Thyroid disorders/mental health issues/Diabetes

If all this doesn't work, you can always see a doctor online for further treatment and counselling.