Insomnia
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Insomnia Treatments and Efficacy
By: Holly Sandoval
PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
Dr. Carrie Natale
November 5, 2012
Insomnia Treatments and Efficacy Insomnia is a medical condition that affects millions of people all over the nation. In fact, 48% of Americans admit to having occasional bouts of insomnia and 22% report suffering from insomnia every night or every other night. (National Sleep Foundation, 2011) So why are Americans so sleepless? There are many known causes of insomnia, though some cases remain unexplained. In this paper insomnia will be explored; its causes, treatments, efficacy of those treatments and what further research should be considered. The known causes of insomnia fall into five generalized groups; health related issues, medication, lifestyle, psychological issues and issues related to aging. Not all cases of insomnia will fall into one of these categories. There are times when an individual can suffer from insomnia with no clearly defined reason why. Here, each condition under each category will be defined and discussed. The first category up is health related issues. The health related issues that can cause insomnia include; breathing problems, chronic pain, frequent urination, diseases affecting the nervous system and diseases affecting the metabolism. Breathing problems can include lung disease and even heart failure. Diseases of the lungs such as cancer, emphysema, or COPD make breathing difficult especially while lying down. Heart failure can cause fluid to collect in the lungs making it difficult to breathe. When sleeping, people fall into a pattern of deep, rhythmic breathing. If an individual is unable to breathe properly good sleep is unlikely. Chronic pain can include conditions such as; arthritis, back problems and fibromyalgia. Those who suffer from frequent and severe migraines may also suffer from prolonged insomnia. These conditions cause constant pain, making it difficult for sufferers to
Insomnia Treatments and Efficacy
By: Holly Sandoval
PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
Dr. Carrie Natale
November 5, 2012
Insomnia Treatments and Efficacy Insomnia is a medical condition that affects millions of people all over the nation. In fact, 48% of Americans admit to having occasional bouts of insomnia and 22% report suffering from insomnia every night or every other night. (National Sleep Foundation, 2011) So why are Americans so sleepless? There are many known causes of insomnia, though some cases remain unexplained. In this paper insomnia will be explored; its causes, treatments, efficacy of those treatments and what further research should be considered. The known causes of insomnia fall into five generalized groups; health related issues, medication, lifestyle, psychological issues and issues related to aging. Not all cases of insomnia will fall into one of these categories. There are times when an individual can suffer from insomnia with no clearly defined reason why. Here, each condition under each category will be defined and discussed. The first category up is health related issues. The health related issues that can cause insomnia include; breathing problems, chronic pain, frequent urination, diseases affecting the nervous system and diseases affecting the metabolism. Breathing problems can include lung disease and even heart failure. Diseases of the lungs such as cancer, emphysema, or COPD make breathing difficult especially while lying down. Heart failure can cause fluid to collect in the lungs making it difficult to breathe. When sleeping, people fall into a pattern of deep, rhythmic breathing. If an individual is unable to breathe properly good sleep is unlikely. Chronic pain can include conditions such as; arthritis, back problems and fibromyalgia. Those who suffer from frequent and severe migraines may also suffer from prolonged insomnia. These conditions cause constant pain, making it difficult for sufferers to
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