They are common, sometimes costly, major health concerns that affect the quality of life for millions of Americans. If you begin each day tired and feeling as though you've hardly slept, you are not alone. Most of these are temporary problems that can often be relieved by practicing good sleep habits and, if necessary, by taking medication.
Insomnia is the inability to get enough sleep.
Symptoms of insomnia may include taking more than 45 minutes to fall asleep, waking up four to five times during the night, and taking more than 15 minutes to fall backasleep. Constant daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, memory or judgment problems, and decreased sexual drive may also be symptoms of insomnia. Some people suffer from short-term insomnia, which can last from a few nights to a few weeks and is usually caused by worry over a stressful situation. Long-term insomnia can last months, even years, with a severe sleep problem as its cause. Helpful sleeping tips Steven Hull, MD, director of quality and risk management and a pulmonologist with Kaiser Permanente in Kansas City, recommends establishing a regular sleep routine.