Though not a formal term, the descriptor mixed insomnia may be applied to people who have a combination of problems related to sleep onset, sleep maintenance, and early morning awakenings. In general, the broader term insomnia can be thought of as describing mixed insomnia because it is common for people to have overlapping sleeping problems. In addition, people with insomnia often find that their symptoms can shift over time , making it hard to classify insomnia strictly among the subtypes of onset, maintenance, and early morning awakenings.
In the past, sleeping problems were sometimes labeled as comorbid insomnia or secondary insomnia. This meant that insomnia was believed to arise as a result of another condition such as anxiety , depression , sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD , or physical pain. Contemporary research has generated a deeper understanding of insomnia that recognizes that sleeping problems often have a bidirectional relationship with other health issues.
For example, while anxiety may contribute to insomnia, insomnia may trigger or exacerbate anxiety as well. Furthermore, insomnia triggered by another condition does not always go away even after that underlying issue is resolved. Because of the complexity of these relationships, it becomes difficult to classify insomnia as strictly comorbid or secondary.
Similarly, the presence of multiple contributing factors makes identifying a single cause of insomnia challenging for many patients. For these reasons, insomnia classification systems used in sleep medicine have moved away from this terminology and toward a broader understanding of insomnia.
Insomnia can manifest in diverse ways, and researchers are working to further identify how causes, symptoms, health consequences, and treatments may be different among distinct subtypes. In the future, it is possible that continued investigation along these lines may sharpen our understanding of insomnia and expand the ability to optimize treatment for any given patient.
Eric Suni has over a decade of experience as a science writer and was previously an information specialist for the National Cancer Institute. Smith is board-certified in dental sleep medicine and has over 20 years of experience in the treatment of sleep breathing disorders. Sleep problems can affect anyone, but women are more likely to experience insomnia than men. Poor sleep can provoke daytime…. It is marked by problems getting to…. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
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Updated June 24, Written by Eric Suni. Medically Reviewed by Kent Smith. There are two main types of insomnia: Short-Term Insomnia Also known as acute insomnia or adjustment insomnia, this is a brief episode of difficulty sleeping. Chronic Insomnia Chronic insomnia is a long-term pattern of difficulty sleeping. Other Ways of Describing Insomnia While the sleep disorder of insomnia is principally classified as either short-term or chronic, there are other terms that may be used to describe insomnia.
Related Reading. Get the latest information in sleep from our newsletter. Your privacy is important to us. Was this article helpful? Yes No. Zhang, B. Sex differences in insomnia: a meta-analysis. Sleep, 29 1 , 85— Silvestri, R.
Sleep disorders in pregnancy. A few other factors that affect your sleep are your adenosine, cortisol, GABA and glutamate levels. Adenosine comes from ATP, which is the energy source of the body. During the creation of energy, you free up adenosine. When the adenosine level in your brain is high, you feel tired.
When you sleep at night, your brain gets rid of the excess adenosine. Cortisol can be another culprit in your insomnia. You produce cortisol all day long so no surprise that by the end of the day, your cortisol levels are high.
You saw me write about taking breaks and resetting during the day, meditating before falling asleep, starting a gratitude practice and other mind-calming hacks. GABA and glutamate are like yin and yang. They balance each other out. Insomnia can cause a number of risks and side effects that affect your mental and physical health and impact your ability to function.
You may be able to treat acute insomnia at home with an over-the-counter sleep aid or by managing your stress. A doctor may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia CBT-I , which has proven to be more effective than medication. Diagnosing insomnia may include a physical examination and a review of your medical history to check for signs of an underlying condition. You may also be asked to track your sleep patterns and symptoms in a sleep diary.
A doctor may refer you for a sleep study to check for other sleep disorders. See a doctor if insomnia is making it hard for you to function during the day or if it lasts more than a couple weeks.
A doctor can help determine the cause of your insomnia and the most effective way to treat it. Each of the different types of insomnia can interfere with your ability to function during the day. Acute insomnia can usually be treated at home. Left untreated, chronic insomnia can increase your risk of depression and other serious conditions.
Having trouble sleeping occasionally is fairly common. Chronic insomnia, though, is a greater cause for concern. Insomnia makes it difficult for you to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both.
Get information on risk factors, symptoms, tests, treatments, and home…. Insomnia can affect your overall health.
Insomnia can affect your health in many ways. Learn about these effects and the best ways to treat your insomnia. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
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