There are few things as refreshing as a good night's sleep. Conversely, there are few things more frustrating than insomnia, which is difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. As many as one of every three American adults complains of this type of sleep problem.
Insomnia falls into one of three categories, based on how long it lasts.
When someone has difficulty sleeping for just a few nights, it's called transient insomnia. Transient insomnia can be the result of stress or excitement at work or in relationships, as well as travel across time zones or vigorous exercise right before bedtime. Short-term insomnia lasts for about two to three weeks, and is usually due to an ongoing stressful situation in someone's life. When the stress ends or the person adjusts to the new situation, this type of insomnia goes away. Chronic insomnia , insomnia that lasts for more than three weeks, affects about 35 million Americans.