Insomnia is a condition in which night sleep is disturbed. At the same time, a person cannot fall asleep, often wakes up during the night, does not feel rested in the morning, he is tormented by nightmares. People who have a similar problem are preoccupied with the question "how to treat insomnia."
This condition may be temporary, for example, when falling asleep in an unusual place, with excessive emotional excitement, as a result of taking certain medications. A stimulating effect on the body that interferes with night rest is provided by drinks such as strong coffee or tea, as well as spicy foods. If such disorders are observed at least three times a week for a month, they are diagnosed with insomnia. The causes and treatment of such an ailment will help determine the doctor.
A disease lasting for years exhausts a person. The main causes of this condition are stress, nervous and physical overload.
Chronic insomnia can be accompanied by impaired heart function, gnashing of teeth, trembling hands and feet. There may be walking in a dream. A long-existing disease affects the general state of health. A person feels fatigue in the daytime, irritability, his concentration of attention decreases, his memory worsens. The problem is often observed in older people. This is manifested by early awakenings, after which a person is no longer able to fall asleep.
Insomnia. Reasons and treatment
Among the most common reasons, experts distinguish the following:
- psychological - anxiety, depression, a state of excessive excitement;
- physical - this may be a pathology of the respiratory apparatus, apnea, snoring, overwork, digestive problems, the presence of certain diseases;
- circumstantial - these include noises, sharp sounds, bright lights, sleep rhythm disturbances during shift work, etc.
Insomnia with menopause
This phenomenon is quite common. Lack of sleep leads to problems with the nervous system, increased pressure, irritability, heart disease may appear. In the daytime, a woman feels the urge to lie down, but at night she cannot close her eyes. How is insomnia treated in this case? This problem is solved with the help of sedatives and sleeping pills. If this condition lasts a long time, you need to contact a gynecologist-endocrinologist.
Insomnia in the elderly
People aged love to relax in the daytime, and then do not close their eyes at night. This is not insomnia. Elderly should not get carried away watching TV in the evening, milk and honey will help calm down, a warm bath. If a person has a strong nervous system, there should not be problems with falling asleep. But after a nervous shock, a hearty dinner, a lot of drunk liquid, strong tea or coffee, insomnia can be observed. Diseases of some internal organs also often interfere with normal night's rest.
Insomnia in children
In children under two years old, only the nervous system is formed, which can manifest itself in disturbances in sleep and wakefulness. Colic, wet diapers, hunger, overheating, hypothermia, fears most often prevent babies from falling asleep.
Conflicts, moving to a new place of residence can also cause such violations in children of any age. Teething, ear pain, extraneous odors can interfere with normal rest. Another cause of insomnia in children is the presence of parasites, while the baby is uncomfortable with itching in the anus. A child who does not have a normal full night's rest slowly grows and develops worse.
Effect of alcohol
A person who drinks regularly regularly falls asleep quickly and easily. Then the body becomes addictive, and insomnia occurs. The disease in people who suffer from alcohol dependence is not treated at home.
Treatment
First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the cause that caused insomnia. A healthy person can get rid of the problem without the use of drugs. How is insomnia treated if the reason lies in the excessive excitability of the nervous system? In this case, rest, long walks in the fresh air, herbal baths will help. Before going to bed, it is better to refuse food, tea and coffee.
A soothing massage has a positive effect. If the problem is associated with a specific pathology, it is necessary to treat the underlying disease.
Traditional treatment
What do doctors treat insomnia with ? Therapy consists in the use of sleeping pills and sedatives, tranquilizers-benzodiazepines, 3-drugs, melatonin.
With the help of such medicines, you can alleviate the condition, but the problem does not disappear. In this regard, the reception of such funds should not last more than two weeks. If you regularly take such drugs, then over time without them it will be impossible to fall asleep at all.
Tranquilizers are taken in order to improve sleep, reduce anxiety, achieve relaxation, and get rid of obsessive states. Such drugs have many side effects, the list of which even includes a split personality, so they are prescribed only by a doctor. Z-drugs are the same tranquilizers, only with a different composition.
Synthetic sleep hormone melatonin helps get rid of a chronic disease, helps regulate the sleep cycle. Drugs with melatonin are recommended for older people. The course of treatment is no more than three weeks. Side effects - constipation, stomach pain, dizziness, weight gain, irritability, migraine.
Hypnosis Treatment
Such treatment is used by experienced specialists who are able to correctly enter and withdraw the patient from hypnotic sleep. Hypnosis for insomnia has no contraindications and can be used in the treatment of people of any age, except for children under five years of age.
Homeopathic remedies
Homeopathic medicines are also used to treat such disorders. For example, "Aconite" is used in case of problems with sleep and fever. "Koffea" contains coffee in its composition, which contributes to falling asleep in contrast to the usual aromatic drink. Chilibuha pharmacy treats irritability, while Arsenicum Album relieves anxiety. The state of melancholy, anxiety is treated with "Ignorance."
Sanatorium treatment
This method helps to restore strength and normalize sleep. After the cause of violations is established, sanatorium treatment is prescribed. It is necessary to abandon bad habits, adhere to sleep and rest. Therapy is prescribed with herbal teas, massage baths, massage, physiotherapy. Physical therapy classes, walks in the fresh air are recommended.
Treatment with folk remedies
This treatment is safe and not addictive. Folk recipes for insomnia help eliminate the problem, contribute to a good night's rest and recovery. Further we will consider some of them.
Dill seeds
This folk remedy is harmless, provides a deep and sound sleep. To prepare the medicine you need half a liter of cahors or port. Dill seeds (50 g) are poured into the wine and boiled for about 20 minutes over low heat, then wrapped and insisted for an hour. Then the tool must be filtered. Take at bedtime 50 ml.
Hemp seeds
I use with periodic insomnia. Two tablespoons of hemp seeds need to be crushed, sieved. Then fill them with hot boiled water (200 ml), wrap and insist for half an hour. Two hours before bedtime, they drink half a glass, another hour later - what is left. The drink should be warm. The course of treatment is two weeks.
Hop cones
Cones (2 tsp) are poured with a glass of boiling water. Wrapped, insist for four hours, filter. 200 ml of the drug is drunk before bedtime.
You can make alcohol tincture. To do this, hop cones are poured with vodka or alcohol (1: 4). The tool is insisted for 14 days in a dark place, after which it is filtered and squeezed. Tincture is used in the morning and in the evening before meals, five drops diluted in a tablespoon of water.
The crushed hop cones in powder form are taken overnight as a sedative and sleeping pill.
You can stuff a small pillowcase with fresh hop cones, sleep on it when insomnia occurs. It helps even in the most severe cases.
Valerian officinalis
Use a decoction, infusion or alcohol tincture of valerian. To prepare the infusion, Valerian root (1 tbsp.) Is poured with boiled cold water (1 tbsp.). You need to insist for six to eight hours, strain. Adults take 1 tbsp. l., children - 1 tsp each. thrice a day.
To prepare the broth, the crushed root (1 tbsp. L.) Is poured with a glass of boiling water, boiled over low heat for a quarter of an hour. The broth is filtered, taken three times a day. Adults one tablespoon, children - one teaspoon.
Alcohol tincture is purchased at the pharmacy. Accepted according to the instructions.
Honey
Honey is the most harmless sleeping pill. Before going to bed, you need to drink a glass of warm water or milk with a tablespoon of honey dissolved in it. This remedy calms, promotes sound sleep, positively affects the work of the intestines.
Herbal bath
Herbal baths have a calming effect and help to normalize sleep. Take them at bedtime for 15-20 minutes.
Recipe 1. To prepare such a bath take motherwort (5 tsp), mint (4 tsp), chamomile flowers. Herbs are crushed, mixed and poured with boiling water (2.5 liters). Insist at least six hours. Before going to bed, fill the bath with warm water, add the infusion.
Recipe 2. You will need herbs - oregano, mint, motherwort in half a glass, 5-6 hop cones. Herbs must be mixed, pour 4 liters of boiling water, wrap and insist for an hour. Strained infusion is added to the bath water. The course of treatment is 14 days.
Music therapy
Scientists have studied the effect of music on the physical and psycho-emotional state of a person. It can help increase or decrease pressure, relieve muscle tension, and activate memory and thinking processes. Specially selected melodies can relieve neurosis, help calm down and have a good rest at night.
Light music from insomnia calms and prepares the body for sleep. If you use music therapy daily, the body will develop a conditioned reflex “music - falling asleep”.
General recommendations
To get rid of such a problem as night insomnia, you must adhere to some rules:
- limit or exclude the use of foods high in caffeine and other stimulants: coffee, teas (green and black), energy and alcoholic drinks, chocolate, hot spices;
- unlearn the habit of falling asleep while reading a book or with a working TV;
- Do not strain the stomach in the evening. The last meal should take place 2-3 hours before bedtime;
- fall asleep in the darkness and silence, the air in the room should be fresh and cool;
- take care of convenience: the bed should be moderately rigid, even;
- in the evening it is useful to take a walk, take a warm shower or bath;
- do not sleep in the daytime;
- observe the regime of the day;
- falling asleep, get rid of thoughts about problems and troubles.