What are the dangers of insomnia? It’s a problem with serious consequences

Sleep is probably the most important part of rest for the body. It helps to recover and start the day with new strength. On average, a person needs from six to 10 hours of sleep every 24 hours, and it is in the night hours. But not everyone is able to fall asleep so easily. Many people think that sleep problems are not serious, but this is not the case.

doctor-somnologist, psychotherapist

As an Irish proverb says, to laugh heartily and get a good night’s sleep are the two best remedies for any ailment.

So what is insomnia?

Insomnia, or insomnia (from Latin In – “without”, somnus – “sleep”) – is the most common sleep disorder after snoring, a real scourge of modern times.

People suffering from insomnia have difficulty falling asleep. They sleep intermittently, waking up several times during the night. As a rule, they go to bed late and get up early. As a result, this leads to poor health and health problems.

How to recognize insomnia?

Signs of insomnia include:

• trouble falling asleep: if you can’t fall asleep for more than 30 minutes;
• shallow intermittent sleep, waking up twice or more during the night;
• early awakening – 3-5 am.

Insomnia is of three types: transient, acute and chronic.

How to get rid of insomnia and get better sleep?

To cope with insomnia, you need to find out its cause. It can be biological, psychological or social.

Biological cause. To insomnia can lead to a lack of micronutrients: iodine, magnesium, iron. Also exacerbation of chronic diseases: hypertension, gastritis, colitis, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the deficiencies and adjust the work of the body. To do this, you should regularly undergo medical examinations and take care of your health, eat right and exercise.

Psychological cause. Negative thinking and emotions disrupt the production of hormones. For example, increased anxiety blocks the synthesis of melatonin (sleep hormone). With normal body function, its amount increases after 20:00, reaching a maximum by 22:00. This is how the hormone prepares the body for sleep.

With insomnia instead of melatonin in the blood circulates cortisol (stress hormone), the body is tense, can not relax, body temperature is elevated. All this leads to difficulties in falling asleep. Therefore, it is necessary to increase emotional flexibility, change thinking and perception of yourself and life. You can start with meditation and breathing exercises. But if sleep problems bother you for a long time and nothing helps, you should consult a specialist – a psychologist or psychotherapist.

Social cause. To insomnia lead to stress, conflicts and misunderstandings in relationships, which is aggravated by emotional distress. Therefore, it is important to build ecological and harmonious relationships with people around you.