Adequate sleep is as important to humans as air, water, food. It directly affects the health and physical condition of a person. But in the context of today’s rapidly changing world, this basic human need is becoming an ever greater luxury. One in five people suffers from sleep disorders and, according to experts, this figure is on the rise. The causes of insomnia are different, but most often the disorder is associated with excessive stress, general bad habits.
The reasons
There are many reasons for poor sleep quality. The most frequently cited factor is stress caused by overwork. Negative environmental influences, noise, light, uncomfortable mattresses, colds, various diseases, allergies, etc. also play a role.
Chronic insomnia is a separate chapter. According to the American Journal of Medicine , chronic insomnia refers to when a person suffers from sleep problems 3 times a week or more for at least 1 month. If the condition persists for several years, the risk of serious health complications and premature death increases.
Insomnia in children
Insomnia is rare in children, especially the smallest. As the child grows, the sleep pattern is formed. Therefore, parents need patience. Long-term manifestations of insomnia are most commonly associated with poor sleep habits. This includes rocking in your arms or in a wheelchair, falling asleep while breastfeeding, etc. If the learned ritual is disturbed, the child may have trouble falling asleep or waking up at night. Usually difficulties can be eliminated relatively simply – with the help of “sleep rituals”.
Treatment
How to deal with insomnia? Given the fact that this issue is relevant to a relatively large percentage of the world’s population, there are many treatments. But the main method is based on changing lifestyle and sleeping habits.
Below are some tips that doctors recommend for insomnia problems. Their observance contributes to the sufficient production in the human body of melatonin – a hormone secreted in the cerebral pineal gland and causing the onset of sleep. These tips include:
- going to bed regularly at the same time;
- last meal at least 2 hours before bedtime;
- lack of loud sounds in the bedroom, incl. music;
- quitting smoking and drinking alcohol before bed;
- airing the bedroom before bed;
- refusal of lunchtime sleep (applies only to adults).
If these recommendations do not help, the doctor may prescribe medications – sleeping pills. By popular tools include ” Neospan », « Dr . Theiss “. There are also many specialty teas, tea blends that can fight insomnia.
But hypnotics are not recommended for long-term use as their use can have unwanted side effects. In this case, doctors most often turn to other forms of treatment, including psychotherapy, acupuncture, and similar therapies.