Our need for sleep varies; most people need 6–9 hours of sleep each night, but the structure of sleep may also change as we grow older. Each person occasionally has problems with sleeping, while more than two thirds experience irregular bouts of insomnia, and 4–10% of adults suffer from long-term insomnia.
If the insomnia continues over a long period of time, impairs your functional capacity or weakens the quality of your life, we recommend seeking medical attention. It is important to examine the reasons behind your insomnia.
Insomnia can be caused by:
- changes in your life
- stress
- worries
- sadness
Insomnia can be a symptom of several illnesses or medication used to treat them, such as:
- depression
- anxiety
- pain
- sleep apnea
- restless legs syndrome
High-quality sleep is promoted by:
- regular routines
- physical exercise
- healthy diet
- avoiding excessive alcohol consumption
- avoiding caffeine
We also recommend taking the time to calm down a few hours before bedtime, especially if you struggle with sleep. Various relaxation exercises may also help you fall asleep. If changing your habits or other unmedicated means cannot help with severe sleep issues that impair the quality of your life, you can discuss medication with your physicist. It is important to first examine the cause of the insomnia.
Insomnia may mean difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep or waking up too early.
Hypnotics, commonly known as sleeping pills, can be used to treat insomnia. Benzodiazepine derivatives are the most common variety of sleeping pills. When used over a long period of time, they are associated with a risk of addiction, which is why they are recommended for short-term use or, for example, at the beginning of treating depression before the antidepressants start to affect the sleep issues related to depression.
Today, insomnia is increasingly treated with other medication, especially small doses of tiredness-inducing antidepressants, melatonin and antihistamine. Melatonin, a hormone promoting sleep, is available as over-the-counter and prescription medication. We recommend discussing long-term use of melatonin with your physician. Quitting any type of long-term hypnotics or other medication used to treat insomnia should be gradual and slow.
