There’s no doubt that everyone may have trouble falling or staying asleep from time to time. However, if you experience this daily, you may have insomnia. Indeed, research shows that three in ten adults experience some symptoms of insomnia. Another study found that one-third of adults met the criteria for getting diagnosed with chronic insomnia meaning that they have insomnia symptoms more than three times a week for more than 3 months.

So, if you suspect you might have insomnia, you have to continue reading this article to learn about the signs of this sleep disorder, the causes, and risk factors, how to get a diagnosis, etc. Now, let’s begin!

What are the main Symptoms of Insomnia?

Insomnia is e pretty common sleep disorder mainly characterized by having difficulties falling and staying asleep which results in daytime fatigue and tiredness. In short, these are the symptoms of this sleep disorder:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Frequent awakenings
• Waking up too early
• Disrupted sleep
• Morning tiredness
• Daytime fatigue
• Increased irritability
• Mood swings
• Concentration issues
• Memory problems

Unfortunately, all of the above-listed symptoms can negatively influence your day-to-day life. That said, it is crucial to seek medical professional help especially if you have these symptoms more than three times a week for at least three months. Once your doctor diagnoses you with this sleep disorder, you can get the right treatment to help release your symptoms.

How is Insomnia Diagnosed?

As we already said, getting a diagnosis is key to getting suitable treatment and improving your everyday quality of life. In general, a clinical diagnosis is based on the following:

• The frequency and the duration of the symptoms you experience;
• Whether you have sleep issues despite sleeping in a quality sleep environment; and
• Whether your sleep issues affect your daily functioning, and to what extent.

In addition, to be able to do a thorough diagnosis, your doctor should perform a physical exam, as well as learn in detail about your sleep habits, your lifestyle habits, other existing conditions you suffer from, and medications or supplements you take. Once you go through all of these, your doctor may ask you do to a sleep study or keep a sleep diary to help you find the cause of your sleeping issues.

What are the Causes of Insomnia?

Numerous factors can contribute to and lead to acute insomnia which is short-term insomnia that may last from a few days to a few weeks, including:

• Sleep pattern changes
• Jet lag
• Trauma
• Stress
• Illness
• Pain
• Some medical conditions
• Some medications or stimulants

On the other hand, chronic insomnia is typically closely related with:

• Other sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, etc.
• Chronic pain such as arthritis
• Mental health conditions including depression and anxiety
• Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, etc.

What are the Risk Factors for Insomnia?

Insomnia can indeed occur at any stage of life, however, it is more common in older adulthood. Other factors that increase the risk of suffering from insomnia include:

• Lack of physical activity
• Doing shift work
• Irregular sleep patterns
• High-stress levels
• Frequent daytime naps
• Excessive coffee consumption
• Alcohol and tobacco consumption

Now that you’ve learned all about insomnia signs, causes, and risk factors, it’s time you evaluate your sleep. If you experience any signs of insomnia, make sure you contact your doctor to finally get the sleep and rest you need.