Whatisinsomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you havedifficultyfallingasleepand/or stayingasleep.
The conditionmaybe short-term (acute) orpossiblylong-lasting(chronic). Itcanalso come and go like a rollercoaster.
Short term insomnia lasts from 1 night toseveralweeks. Insomnia is chronic when itoccursat least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more.
This is a quick guide on how to understand the causes of insomnia,and how to properly diagnose and address it. Prior to adding any supplement to your regimen (such ashemp oil for insomnia),ask for direction from a qualified healthcare professional.
Insomnia types
PrimaryInsomnia:
Primary insomnia meansthatyoursleepproblemsarenotrelatedto any otherconditionorhealthproblem.
Secondary insomnia:
Secondary insomnia meansthatyouhavetroublesleepingduetoamedicalcondition(suchasasthma,depression,arthritis,canceror heartburn); pain;medicine;orusingstimulants(suchasalcohol).
Primary Insomnia Causes:
Stress related tomajorlife events,suchasjob loss,death,divorceor move.
Schedule changes liketravel,a newjobor bad habits youdevelopwhenhavingsleep challenges.
Secondaryinsomniacauses:
Mentalhealthproblemssuchasdepression and anxiety
Medications for allergies,depression,high bloodpressureetc
Nighttimepainor discomfort
Caffeine,tobaccoor alcohol use
Hyperthyroidism and other endocrine problemsforother
sleep disorders,suchasSleepapnea or restless legssyndrome.
Insomnia Risk Factors
Women are affected more than men and older people more than younger.Young andmiddle-agedAfrican Americansarealsoathigher risk.
Other risk factors:
Long-term illness
Mental healthproblems
Nightshiftorshiftwork
Few Symptomsofinsomnia:
Drowsinessduring the day
Fatigue
Facialexpression
Problems with focus and/or memory
Jumpy with short fuse (lol)
DiagnosisofInsomnia
Yourdoctorwillexamineyourhealthandaskaboutyoursleephistory and history.
Theymayaskyou to keep a sleep diary for a week or two,keeping track of yoursleepingpatterns andfeelingsfortheday.Theycantalk to your bed partner about howwellandhowwellyouaresleeping. Youmayalso have special tests at a sleep center.
Treatmentofinsomnia
Acuteinsomniamaynotrequiretreatment.
Your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills for a short time,Ifyouhavedifficultyperformingeveryday activities becauseoffatigue.Itworksquickly,butintheshorttermitcanhelppreventproblems like drowsiness the next day.
Donotuse over-the-counter sleeping pills for insomnia. Theycanhave sideeffectsandtendtoperformworseover time.
For chronic insomnia,youwillneed first find what is it bothering and keeping you up at night. Some doctors recommendbehavioral therapy. This may eliminate the things that make insomnia worse and help promote a better sleep.
Research natural supplements like CBD and hemp oil; in reference tohemp oil for allergies,the body’s endocannbinoid system,as well as what it’s fed,can have an effect on sleep. Some people use cannabis and hemp-derived products as a natural treatment for sleep disorders,including insomnia.
Complicationsofinsomnia
Our bodies and brains need sleep so they can repair themselves.Itisalsoveryimportantfor learning and keeping memories. If insomniakeepsyou awake,youmayhave:
- Highriskofhealthproblemslikehighbloodpressure,obesityanddepression
- Risk of falling and getting injured,ifyouarean older woman
- DifficultyFocusing
- Anxiety
- Depressed
- Slowresponsetimescan lead toanautocrash
Insomnia Prevention
Good sleep habits,knownassleep hygiene,can help you beat insomnia. Thesetips may help you to cope with insomnia:
Go tobedatthesametimeeverynightandwakeupatthesametimeeverymorning. Try not to take naps during the day,astheycanmake you less sleepy at night.
Don’tuseyourphoneore-bookbefore bed. Their light can make it harder tosleep.
Avoid caffeine,nicotine,and alcoholattheendofthe day. Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants and can keep youawake.Alcohol cancauseyoutowake up in the middle of the night andimpairthequalityofyoursleep.
Exerciseregularly.Trynottoexerciseclose tobedtimeasitcanmakeitdifficultforyouto fall asleep. Expertsrecommendexercising at least 3 to 4 hours before bed.
Donoteatmanymealsattheendofthe day. But abedtimesnackcanhelpyoufallasleep.
Make your bedroom comfortable: dark,quiet,and not too warm or too cold. Iflightingistheproblem,use a sleeping mask. Tosuppressthesound,tryusingearplugs,fansor a white noise machine.
Makea routine to relax before bed. Readbooks,listen tomusicor take a bath.
Don’tuse your bed for anything other than sleep and sex.
If youareunabletofallasleepandarenotsleepy,wakeup and do somethingtocalmyoudown,like readingabookuntil you feel sleepy.
If youareawake andworriedabouteverything,make a to-do list beforebed.Thiscanhelpyousetyour concernsaside.
To further study insomnia and how natural products like hemp oil affect it,read CBD for allergies. Keep in mind that no supplements referenced on this page have been reviewed or approved by the FDA for medical use,and that prior to taking them,it is best to seek a doctor’s advice.