Secondary Insomnia: What It Is, And How To Find Relief

Secondary Insomnia: How prevalent is it in today’s society

Insomnia is more prevalent in our society than you may expect. As many as one-third of adults are experiencing it in some form at any given moment. It can also affect children as well as teenagers. Due to its prevalence, it is important that we know facts about exactly what it is, and how it is affecting our health.

Considering how common insomnia is, it would not be surprising if either you have, or have known someone who has suffered from it. However, you may be surprised to learn that there are different types of insomnia that vary in severity and the way they affect your health. Let’s take a look at some of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and possible treatments surrounding insomnia so we can better recognize and deal with it in the future.

Two Types of Insomnia
One way of differentiating between types of insomnia is by determining the cause. For this, there are two main categories:

Primary Insomnia

Primary insomnia is when a person experiences difficulty sleeping that is not associated with any other mental or physical health issues. Other conditions either do not exist or do not directly contribute to it.

Secondary Insomnia

Secondary insomnia is when a person experiences difficulty sleeping because of another condition such as pain, stress, depression, illness, medication, or substance abuse. Sleep Report

Factors That Contribute to Insomnia

Stress-related to big life events, like a job loss or change, the death of a loved one, divorce, or moving
Things around you like noise, light, or temperature. Changes to your sleep schedule like jet lag, a new shift at work, or bad habits you picked up when you had other sleep problems

Mental health issues like depression and anxiety
Medications for colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma
Pain or discomfort at night
Caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol use
Hyperthyroidism and other endocrine problems
Other sleep disorders, like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome Webmd

25% of Americans Experience Symptoms of Insomnia

About 25 per cent of Americans experience acute insomnia each year, but about 75 per cent of these individuals recover without developing persistent poor sleep or chronic insomnia, according to a study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania which will be presented Monday at SLEEP 2018, the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS).

The new study offers the latest data on the prevalence of acute insomnia, which is characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep for as little as three nights per week for at least two consecutive weeks up to three months. Insomnia becomes chronic when it occurs at least three nights a week for more than three months.

“Whether caused by stress, illness, medications, or other factors, poor sleep is very common,” said senior author Michael Perlis, PhD, an associate professor of Psychiatry and director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program. “These findings reveal new insights about the paths that acute insomnia takes and can inform interventions that target poor sleep and help people recover sustained sufficient sleep.” Full Story

Insomnia outside America

Various studies worldwide have shown the prevalence of insomnia in 10%–30% of the population, some even as high as 50%–60%. It is common in older adults, females, and people with medical and mental ill-health.[4,5,6] The consequences of insomnia are significant, such as depression, impaired work performance, work-related/motor vehicle accidents, and overall poor quality of life.

It is an easy-to-diagnose condition with many self-answerable questionnaires for aid, yet goes unrecognized in a significant number of patients coming to the outpatient department with other comorbid conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic insomnia, to look for any association with socioeconomic factors and medical comorbidities, and also to assess the patient’s perception of having insomnia. NCBI

Natural Cures

Meditation

Researchers in a 2011 study found that meditation significantly improved insomnia and overall sleep patterns. Participants attended a weekly meditation class, a daylong retreat, and practised at home over the course of a few months.

Yoga and light exercise

Yoga has proven to be quite helpful in regards to insomnia. A few minutes of Yoga or light exercise every day can significantly improve the quality of one’s sleep.

A 2015 study yielded very positive results: Individuals that exercised for at least 150 minutes per week for 6 months experienced significantly fewer insomnia related symptoms.

For a full list of all the possible approaches, one can take to help improve’s one’s sleep without using medications follow this link. Healthline