High-quality and deep sleep is necessary for every person. Indeed, without a normal 8-hour rest, it is impossible to restore lost strength, relax the body, maintain its working condition, beauty and health.
But sometimes a night turns into a nightmare for a person. He hears the beating of seconds on the clock hands, the time at which inexorably indicates approaching the morning rise, but cannot fall asleep at the same time.
Those people who have never encountered such a phenomenon as insomnia, treat it with a certain degree of irony. However, a disease that is so harmless at first glance, which in medicine is called "insomnia", can do tremendous harm to health. Insomnia, like any other ailment, has its own reasons. However, finding them out is sometimes very problematic.
Chronic insomnia
This form of the disease is spoken of when for a period of more than a month it is difficult for a person to fall asleep, but if he succeeds, then the dream is still short and shallow. For a long period of time, patients cannot rest well. They do not get enough sleep without falling completely into dreams.
Chronic insomnia most often occurs due to certain factors. Among them are the following:
- a change in environment (the occurrence of irritating factors, relocation, etc.);
- change of type of activity, work;
- Depression
- mental disorders arising from a recent illness or injury;
- pathology of the heart;
- ailments manifested by physical pain;
- kidney disease, in which there is frequent urge to urinate;
- bronchial asthma;
- apnea;
- drinking large doses of alcohol or coffee;
- abuse of psychotropic drugs.
It should be borne in mind that chronic insomnia occurs in connection with existing serious health problems. In such cases, self-medication is not recommended because of the danger of further exacerbating the patient's condition.
Insomnia in children
Based on statistics, every fifth child has trouble sleeping. Fortunately, children's nighttime insomnia, as a rule, is temporary and is expressed only in violation of the regime. But sometimes a sleep disorder still has a negative effect on the health of the child. He develops weakness and fatigue, dizziness and anxiety, and also slows down brain activity.
The causes of this disease depend on the age category of the small patient. So, starting from birth and ending with a year of life, a baby often confuses day and night due to imperfection of the nervous system. Gradually growing up, children begin to get used to the correct regimen, and therefore their sleep returns to normal. If the baby is awake at night and bothers parents with tears or other manifestations of discontent, then you need to consult a pediatrician to exclude:
- ear pain;
- discomfort and colic in the tummy;
- prickly heat, irritation and diaper rash.
Sometimes the baby is disturbed by noise or light. The child is uncomfortable with the heat and dry air in the room where his crib is located. These factors also have a negative effect on the occurrence of shallow and restless sleep.
Children 3-6 years old cannot rest normally at night because of:
- pondering the information they received during the day;
- overexcitation after watching cartoons;
- developing colds.
Pupils are not allowed to fall asleep at night:
- worry about academic performance and study;
- fear of upcoming exams or tests;
- experiencing after a quarrel with a best friend or girlfriend;
- restriction of freedom, which is noted by parents imposing their point of view;
- the occurrence of serious health problems.
In the event that sleep disturbance in children has become chronic, a visit to a doctor is mandatory.
Teenage Insomnia
Night rest at this age has its own characteristics. Indeed, in the body of a teenager there is not enough melatonin. This is the hormone responsible for a person’s sleep. That is why young people so easily violate the normal schedule of their vacation for the most insignificant reasons. Factors of teenage insomnia may include:
- lack of exercise;
- acquired bad habits;
- malnutrition or diet;
- complex school curriculum requiring high mental stress;
- first love and emotional experiences;
- natural age-related physiological changes.
If a teenager begins to experience a lack of quality sleep, then he becomes moody, irritable and aggressive. He has a feeling of constant fatigue and memory is deteriorating, which makes the learning process incredibly difficult.
If teenage insomnia occurs, what should parents do? In order to return to normal life their son or daughter, they must prohibit him (her):
- late meal;
- watching TV, as well as computer games in the evening.
In addition, it is important for adults to be able to create a comfortable and cozy atmosphere in the house, as well as not to sort things out with the teenager before bedtime. You just need to talk with your child, find out his problems and worries, trying to support a young, not yet experienced person.
If nevertheless the measures taken did not help from teenage insomnia, what should be done in this case? A disease that has become chronic will require a visit to a psychologist. Only a specialist will be able to find out the true causes of the disorder.
Female insomnia
Today, sleep disorders are observed in many women. Women get this ailment in connection with the following:
- conflicts at work;
- shift work schedule;
- emerging depressions;
- problems in the family and in personal relationships;
- the use of large amounts of chocolate, tea and coffee;
- dissatisfaction with one’s own life;
- uncontrolled intake of sleeping pills;
- drinking alcohol in the evening;
- the development of pathologies that are accompanied by painful symptoms.
Insomnia is very depressing for a woman. She develops irritability and increases fatigue. In addition, the lady is able to fall into a nap right in the middle of the day, no matter where she is at that time - in public transport, at the workplace or in a responsible meeting. To give vitality, women begin to drink a lot of coffee, thereby forming a vicious circle.
Insomnia in pregnant women
The body of the expectant mother is in a special condition. After all, the origin and development of a new life takes place inside it. The role of women in this process is difficult to overestimate. The health and psycho-emotional state of the future man will depend on her behavior and lifestyle.
However, sometimes the period of pregnancy is clouded by insomnia. And this can happen at any time due to:
- heartburn, toxicosis, and stomach discomfort;
- frequent urination;
- pain in the lumbar region;
- forced uncomfortable posture for sleeping;
- cramps that bring the legs in the calf;
- lack of oxygen;
- restless thoughts about the well-being of the child and the upcoming birth;
- anxiety and nightmares.
However, peace does not always come because of discomfort or discomfort. The causes of insomnia in women during pregnancy sometimes lie in the attempt of the future mother's body to prepare for the birth of a child. After all, after the birth of a baby, a woman will be forced to sleep sensitively and wake up for night feedings.
Menopause during menopause
Sleep disorders often accompany the extinction of a woman's reproductive function. To combat this phenomenon in this period it is simply necessary that subsequently the disease does not take a chronic form.
The causes of insomnia in women are as follows:
- night tides;
- increasing feelings of fear and anxiety;
- heart palpitations;
- severe irritability.
If insomnia occurs during menopause, what should a woman do in this case? You will need to see a doctor. The doctor is likely to give recommendations on taking drugs that allow you to take a course of hormone replacement therapy. Such treatment will allow a woman to get rid of those unpleasant consequences that are associated with a similar period.
Insomnia in men
Sleep disturbance is often observed in those who make their choice in favor of work, ignoring normal rest. In time, a man is prevented from going to bed by such reasons as:
- smoking and alcohol abuse;
- computer games and TV;
- stressful condition;
- drinking coffee or tea just before bedtime;
- Depression
- work with shift schedules;
- physical activity in the evening hours;
- low energy consumption with a sedentary lifestyle.
It is worth noting that insomnia has a literally devastating effect on the man’s body. First of all, this phenomenon leads to a slowdown or cessation of the production of testosterone - a sex hormone that affects potency.
A man who does not get enough sleep becomes aggressive and irritable. He has constant drowsiness, often leading to accidents or car accidents. In addition, in the blood of a man who constantly can not sleep, sugar levels gradually increase. This causes diabetes and obesity.
Insomnia in the elderly
Often people who have reached a venerable age, begin to complain about sleep disturbance. Insomnia is observed in more than 50% of people over 65, and it is associated with dysfunction of brain activity. Sometimes psychogenic, medical and social factors exacerbate this situation.
In old age, insomnia that has begun has already acquired its chronic form for a short time. Its causes are leg pain, ischemia, neurological disorders, heart failure, angina pectoris, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bronchial asthma.
Insomnia in old age often occurs in people who are depressed. They are characterized by difficulty falling asleep, anxious sleep, a manifestation of feelings of helplessness and helplessness, early awakening.
How to deal with insomnia in old age? To do this, first of all, consult a doctor so that he identifies the cause of this phenomenon and prescribes a course of drug therapy to eliminate it.
Normal Sleep Recovery Methods
If a person suffers from insomnia, what should he do in this case? A similar phenomenon is treated with medications, hypnosis, as well as folk remedies.
Get rid of insomnia helps therapy using:
- Sleeping pills. However, these medications remove the symptoms of the disease, but do not treat its root cause. They should not be taken for more than two weeks in a row, as this can cause drug dependence.
- Tranquilizers. Such drugs help the patient to relax, getting rid of anxious and obsessive thoughts. However, this group of pharmacological agents causes serious dependence and sometimes becomes the cause of serious mental disorders.
- Melatonin It is recommended only in the most advanced cases in order to adjust the sleep cycle. It is worth noting that this drug has a lot of negative side effects.
- Homeopathic remedies. Their appointment is carried out only by the appropriate specialist. The homeopathic doctor recommends a medicine from a whole list of drugs, which should have the necessary effect on the mental state of the patient.
Sometimes treatment for insomnia is carried out using hypnosis. This is done by psychotherapists. After only a few sessions, an experienced professional is able to achieve maximum effect and cure the disease.
There are folk remedies for insomnia. However, their use is justified only when the disease has not yet acquired a chronic form. So, herbal tea from insomnia will save a person only from an accidental failure that occurred in sleep mode.
Medicines
Care should be taken to treat insomnia. Moreover, this should be done only on the advice of a doctor. After all, any pharmacological remedy for insomnia has a large number of side effects and contraindications. After taking one of them, a strong dependence arises. From this, a dream without another "dose" never comes. Others can relax respiratory function.
How to deal with insomnia with harmless means? To do this, drugs sold over the counter can be purchased at the pharmacy, which can be taken independently. These include:
- Persen and Novopassit. These are herbal multi-component tablets.
- Dormiplant. This drug is a two-component herbal sleeping pill. In its composition - valerian and lemon balm, the ratio of which has a proportion of 2: 1.
- Valerian and motherwort. These sleeping pills are completely natural and are made from rhizomes of herbs.
- Melaxen This drug is a synthetic analogue of melatonin - the sleep hormone.
The above funds contribute to a calming effect, as a result of which they are often used for nervous excitability. Treatment of chronic insomnia with these agents is not possible.
By prescription in a pharmacy, the following drugs can be purchased:
- "Zopiclone", "Zaleplon", "Zolpidem" (sleeping pills, assigned to the group "Z"). These are one of the safest pills that are not addictive and do not adversely affect respiratory function. However, the use of these drugs can cause serious complications in case of an overdose, which is why they are released only on prescription.
- Barbiturates These drugs, created on the basis of barbiturate acid, are classified as narcotic drugs. Their intake depresses the central nervous system, which has a sedative and hypnotic effect. Drugs in this group are highly addictive.
- Donormil. This medication is designed to fall asleep quickly. Its use helps to relax all muscles, which makes the medicine dangerous for people suffering from night apnea.
- "Serax", "Activan", "Xanax", "Restoril", "Librium", "Galzion", "Versed", "Paxpam" (benzodiazipimes). These are sedative-hypnotic drugs. When taking a small dosage of such drugs, a calming effect is achieved, with a large - sleeping pills. Drugs reduce anxiety due to their inhibition of brain activity.
How to trick insomnia?
If it is impossible to sleep, what to do at home? Insomnia can be deceived in one of the following ways:
- reading a boring book with a detailed study of all the details and events described;
- a walk before bedtime in the fresh air;
- taking a glass of warm milk before bedtime or a piece of cheese that contains tryptophan - a substance that promotes a feeling of relaxation, well-being and satisfaction;
- dreams of your own beautiful future with a detailed description of your ideal life;
- performed before bedtime massage of the face and hands for 7-10 minutes;
- mental count of up to one hundred identical objects (houses, chairs, tables or classic sheep).
These are the most simple and affordable means for those who do not know what to do at home. In this case, insomnia recedes for a short time. However, the desired effect can be achieved only in those cases when a person does not suffer from pain and is not in a state of deep depression.
There is another beautiful and affordable remedy for insomnia. It `s music. Before going to bed, she accompanies a person from the very first days of his life in the form of lullabies that almost all mothers of the world sing to their babies. A calm rhythm and melody allow a person to relax in order to fall asleep as soon as possible.
Sleeping music for insomnia is usually a classic motive. They allow you to relieve the tension that has accumulated during the whole busy day. Music for sleeping from insomnia is most often Beethoven's “Moonlight Sonata”, “Tchaikovsky's Evening Dreams”, and Schumann “Dreams. Other works by other authors may be used. The main thing is that the selected motive allows a person to calm down and relax.
Folk remedies for insomnia. Recipes
Those who have not yet taken a chronic form of insomnia are advised to restore normal rest with natural drugs.
- Equal amounts of herbs, including dried flowers of chamomile and mint, will help from insomnia. Valerian root and fennel are added to their mixture. Taken in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1, the ingredients are boiled for half an hour. After this, the mixture is cooled and taken twice a day for half a glass.
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- Among the many recipes for insomnia, there are quite simple and affordable. It provides for the reception before bed of a glass of kefir, in which 1 tablespoon was dissolved. honey.
An effective remedy is tea from insomnia from lily of the valley grass. For its preparation, 1 tsp. raw materials are brewed in a glass of boiling water. Drink this tea 3-4 times throughout the day.