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What is Insomnia and What Causes Insomnia?

At the bottom of the page you will find a link to our extensive guide to finding a natural insomnia cure, but first it would be wise to a look at just what insomnia is:

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder (often referred to as "insomnia sleep disorder") and, most importantly, it is a symptom and not a disease.

So, when we talk about an insomnia cure we are not talking about curing insomnia directly but simply treating the underlying cause of insomnia.

Definition of Insomnia

Insomnia is the failure to get enough quality sleep. In its simplest form insomnia can be defined as difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep or waking after too short a period of sleep.

What Causes Insomnia?

The causes of insomnia are many and varied but they can be divided into two groups:

  • Primary Insomnia. Primary insomnia is a sleep disorder for which there is no specific underlying condition and is the most common form of insomnia. Stress, environmental changes (such as noise and temperature), disruptions to your normal sleep pattern (caused perhaps through shift work or long-haul travel), and the side-effects of many medications can all give rise to primary insomnia. Other contributory factors include the excessive use of drugs, alcohol or caffeine and taking naps during the day.


  • Secondary Insomnia. Secondary insomnia can be attributed to a specific underlying physical or psychological condition. These include other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome and circadian rhythm disorder. Other physical and psychological conditions that often give rise to insomnia include depression, respiratory problems (including asthma), heart problems (such as congestive heart failure), arthritis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer’s disease and hyperthyroidism.

Your guide to a natural insomnia cure

What are the different types of insomnia and who suffers from insomnia?

What are the symptoms and side-effects of insomnia?

What is the treatment for insomnia

Recommended books from

I Can Make You Sleep: Overcome Insomnia Forever and Get the Best Rest of Your...
by Paul McKenna
Amazon Price: $15.61
Customer Review: I listen to the CD and have a hard time staying awake through it. If I wake up at night I just play the CD again and it puts me right back to sleep. I did listen to the CD one time during the day and was amazed at how some of the post hypnotic suggestions were delivered and how I would think it would be hard for them not to work for most people. I...
 
Say Good Night to Insomnia
by Gregg D. Jacobs
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Customer Review: I have had insomnia for a year--difficulty falling asleep, although I sleep fine once I'm asleep. I have also been taking Ambien for 1 year, and want to wean off. I am on Night #6 of the program, and I have cut my dose of Ambien by 1/2 for 4 of those nights. I have been restricting my sleep to 6 hours, from 1 am to 7 am, and it's been HARD. Getting...
 
No More Sleepless Nights
by Peter Hauri, Shirley Linde
Amazon Price: $11.53
Customer Review: This is an excellent book written primarily by the former director of Sleep Disorders at the Mayo Clinic to assist you in self-diagnosis of insomnia. I received it from Amazon in a timely manner and in the condition stated in the ad. I like it so much that I would order it again.
 
Insomnia
by Stephen King
Amazon Price: $7.99
Customer Review: The book goes on and on endlessly. I usually don't have an issue with profanity and cursing but this book seems to have an abundance of it with no particular point. Also some of the abortion discussion is overly descriptive. All this and no story. King can't be counted on to provide a good story.
 
insomnia - Google News

Corey Haim Battled Severe Insomnia - PerezHilton.com (blog)
11 Mar 2010 at 11:21am

PerezHilton.com (blog)

Corey Haim Battled Severe Insomnia
PerezHilton.com (blog)
"I have a Michael Jackson problem," Haim said only weeks ago, referring to his longtime battle with insomnia. "I know I should be more careful, ...

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Support Network Seeks to Grow Biotech Companies - New York Times
13 Mar 2010 at 7:04pm

Support Network Seeks to Grow Biotech Companies
New York Times
Dr. Boris Pasche had worked for years with a battery-operated device to treat insomnia, but as he followed his research, he discovered that ...


 
Are you plagued by insomnia? - Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
9 Mar 2010 at 10:32am

New York Daily News

Are you plagued by insomnia?
Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
While insomnia is accepted as a fact of life by many Americans, it can be detrimental to our health. Research suggests that adequate sleep plays a vital ...
Sleep study finds racial differences in rest patternsSilent...

 
Vidya is brand ambassador for sleep awareness month - Times of India
13 Mar 2010 at 2:16am

IBNLive.com

Vidya is brand ambassador for sleep awareness month
Times of India
According to experts, one in every three Indians suffer from insomnia or some other form of sleep disorder. JC Suri, president of Indian Sleep Disorders ...
Vidya Balan Wants To Draw Awareness About Sleep!india-server.com
S...

 

The information contained here should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and in no way should be considered as an offering of medical advice.