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Insomnia - Getting The Help You Need
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Experiencing an occasional
sleepless night every now and again is normal and transient
insomnia affects all of us from time to time, especially when we
are under personal or professional stress, or our schedule
changes significantly as a result of jet lag or shift work. But
prolonged insomnia, lasting for perhaps six months or more, is
another story.
If you have been unable to sleep every night, or most nights,
for an extended period, then you may well suffer from serious
insomnia.
If left untreated, such chronic insomnia can lead to a variety
of significantly more serious conditions, including headaches,
high blood pressure and even an increased risk of heart attack
and stroke. What's more, sleep disorders such as this can cause
a loss of mental clarity and difficulty in concentrating.
Insomnia and related sleep problems have also been linked to
depression and other serious psychological and emotional
problems.
Fortunately, addressing the problem, and getting the help you
need for a better night's sleep, can prove relatively
straightforward. Whether you suffer from initial insomnia
(trouble falling asleep), middle insomnia (difficulty staying
asleep), or late insomnia (waking up too early), a process of
simple adjustments to your daily routine, exercise, diet and
sleep schedule will gradually result in a new pattern of
healthful and fulfilling sleep.
A variety of natural sleep remedies (herbs, vitamins and
minerals), when used appropriately, can prove an extremely
effective tool in overcoming insomnia and generating a better
night's sleep. In fact, a few notable herbs and natural remedies
have been medically recognized as the natural equivalent of
several well-known artificial sleep aids and sleeping pills, and
have been lauded for their effectiveness.
If you still find yourself struggling, even after making basic
lifestyle changes and using proven natural remedies for insomnia
(not to mention allowing an appropriate amount of time for these
changes to take effect), you do need to seek the advice of a
doctor. In this case, you could be suffering from more severe
insomnia or a related sleep disorder like sleep apnea,
narcolepsy or restless legs syndrome, all of which require the
guidance of a medical professional.
The following questionnaire will help you determine your level
of insomnia. Simply answer "true" (T) or "false" (F) to each
question:
1. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a good night's
sleep.
2. I have difficulty falling asleep at least four nights out of
every seven.
3. I frequently wake up in the middle of the night and struggle
to get back to sleep.
4. I often wake up at least an hour or more before my alarm
clock rings.
5. More often than not, I go to bed and get up at the same time
each day.
6. I follow a regular exercise routine.
7. My diet includes a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables and
whole grains.
8. I watch television or have a computer in my bedroom.
9. My spouse/partner complains about my snoring.
10. I am frequently sleepy during the day and often wake up
feeling tired.
11. I often experience a tingling or crawling sensation in my
legs and feet.
12. I frequently find myself accidentally falling asleep during
the day.
Answering "true" to any of the first four questions will help
confirm the fact that you may be suffering from serious
insomnia.
Answering "true" to questions five through eight, however,
suggests that you have already established the lifestyle habits
conducive to a good night's sleep. Having difficulty sleeping
despite following a healthy exercise, diet and daily routine
suggests that you could be suffering from some form of insomnia.
You may want to try using natural sleep remedies to manage your
condition, and considering seeking the advice of a medical
professional if it persists.
Answering "true" to the last four questions may indicate that
you suffer from severe insomnia or a related sleep disorder, and
you should seek the advice of a medical professional. |
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