Insomnia: How Lack of Sleep Can Damage Your Health

Insomnia: How Lack of Sleep Can Damage Your Health

What is Insomnia?

The average person spends approximately 1/3 of his or her life sleeping. Although we do not yet fully understand either the purpose or the mechanics of sleep, we do know that an insufficient amount can have far-reaching consequences: our work performance, our personal relationships, and our physical and mental health all depend on getting an appropriate amount of rest.

The inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep throughout the night is a condition known as insomnia, and it is among the most common of all medical complaints; approximately 1/3 of all people experience a period of insomnia at least once during their lifetime. Individuals with insomnia typically experience at least one of the following symptoms:

– Difficulties falling asleep;

– Inability to stay asleep, or waking up too early;

– Sleepiness during the day;

– Fatigue or lack of energy;

– Irritability;

– Headache;

– Decreased ability to concentrate;

– Increased errors or accidents;

– Depression and/or anxiety;

– Continual worry about sleep.

Health Risks of Insomnia

If you are not getting the sleep that you need, your insomnia may eventually lead to serious consequences for your health. In the short term, your alertness and focus are impaired, which can have a negative effect on your school or work performance. Relationship problems may result from irritability due to lack of sleep, while fatigue may prevent you from participating in your normal activities.

In the long-term, the complications of insomnia can be even more severe. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mood disorders are all associated with chronic insomnia; these conditions can be life-threatening, and they will certainly reduce the quality of your life.

What Causes Insomnia?

Insomnia is symptomatic of a large number of physiological disorders; if you are having difficulty sleeping, chances are that an underlying health problem is to blame. Illness, infection, mental health disorders, and medications can all keep you from getting the proper amount of rest. Hormone and neurotransmitter imbalances can affect your body’s ability to fall asleep, and dietary deficiencies can cause insomnia, as well. Exposure to toxic elements such as heavy metals, molds, and other environmental pollutants have also been shown to impair sleep.

Finding the Cause of Insomnia

By determining what is causing your insomnia, your health care provider will be better able to help you design a plan for managing your sleep problem. To find out what is keeping you up at night, your doctor may ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle, your sleeping environment, and even the sleep habits of your partner. A variety of lab tests can also be useful in pinpointing the cause of your insomnia in the event that a health problem is involved.

Managing Insomnia

The first step to getting back to sleep is to treat the underlying cause. Establishing good sleep habits may include nutritional support, exercise, detoxification, and incorporating a relaxation technique into your daily routine.

Good sleep hygiene is important for getting the rest you need. By following the guidelines listed here, you will find yourself drifting off easily, without the constant worry about getting enough sleep every night.

– Stick to a constant sleep schedule, with a consistent bed time and wake-up time;

– Avoid bright lights (including the television and computer) for at least two hours before bedtime;

– Do not exercise within three hours of bedtime;

– Make sure your bedroom is for sleeping – keep the TV, computer, and any other distractions in another room;

– Make sure your sleeping environment is cool, dark and quiet;

– Avoid caffeine, smoking, and alcohol, especially before bed;

– Don’t eat right before you go to bed;

– Try a relaxation exercise such as deep breathing before you turn in.

Over-the-counter and prescription sleep medications are best avoided; they may help you fall asleep, but they can be habit-forming, and they have a variety of negative side effects. By identifying the cause of your insomnia and making some adjustments to your lifestyle, you should be able to overcome your sleep difficulties naturally.

Watch the video related to health

The first music video from the LA-based band Health, whose self-titled debut album is now on Lovepump United Records. This video was made entirely from footage taken from the Werner Herzog documentary “The Great Ecstasy of the Woodcarver Steiner” (1974).

Help answer the question about health

What is the difference between Health Insurance and Health care Program?
Is it OK to have just the health care program and not have the Health Insurance Plan? I can get Health care program for half the monthly premium as compared to the Health Insurance Plan. Please advise? Is it advisable?

About Author

To order online lab test kits to identify the cause of your insomnia visit HealthRemedies.com. Receive 10% off your next sleep supplement purchase by entering discount code SLEEP upon checkout. Valerie Balandra NP is a nurse practitioner that takes a naturopathic and functional medicine approach in her patient care. Valerie is available for telephone consultations by calling 941 371-7997.

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20 Responses to “Insomnia: How Lack of Sleep Can Damage Your Health”

  1. Brett lee says:

    http://www.everyonebenefits.com/12851363 this is a great ste for someone looking for low cost health programs.

  2. candelabr says:

    BOUM PAW!

  3. 4st5lbs says:

    yeah they have more structure than most noise bands do, which i think is why they appeal to more of a majority.

  4. IaskYouanswer says:

    A. Public health looks at everyone from all over. We (I'm an epidemiologist) are concerned with things that may be coming down the pike and hit all of us (like bird flu, etc.). Community health mostly involves doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals that tailor interventions to a particular community's needs, and they generally don't plan out for "the bigger picture", although they do a heck a job in their locales, since they know it better.

  5. г๏๓คгє says:

    Yes. If you have unlimited resources as an American you have the best health care in the world. If you are an ordinary citizen you simply don't. Even the average health care plan generally does not cover the basics like European systems do. All too often Americans find out just how under insured they are when sickness strikes.
    http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/In-the-Literature/2008/Jun/How-Many-Are-Underinsured–Trends-Among-U-S–Adults–2003-and-2007.aspx
    That's important because when those people are lucky enough to stay healthy they will never see a problem whatsoever just as their fellow countrymen were just fine with their coverage before tradgedy happened.
    http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/12538706/detail.html
    http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/your_story/my-insurance-company-denied-my-doctors-prescription
    http://www.rhonawaxman.com/blog/insurance-company-medical-exam-denied-me-surgery.html
    This is the same thing as with the standard of living. Americans have a higher income on average than Americans but more detailed data shows it's the top 1 percent income earners that's responsible for the whole difference. Middle clas an poor Americans are much worse of than their European counterparts

    That's ultimately what it is about

  6. Kindra says:

    The only safety issue I can think of would be falling off of a ladder lol

  7. sweettammie says:

    How interesting… to watch a guy flying for 2 minutes in the air… it´s getting boring after 2 seconds!!

    Seems like Low Lower Lowest budget haha :P

  8. raarset1 says:

    what album is this from? Is it the original self titled?

  9. ninjafahkinsonik says:

    yea this is incredible!!!

  10. Jacob says:

    Well you'll be more hydrated and will have more energy. You might also want to start jogging or biking, you'll see a huge difference in energy levels. =)

  11. Tori says:

    Don't use computer with the charger plugged in unless it needs to be charged. Doing so will kill the battery in short order. Batteries are designed to be discharged and charged. Many say batteries have no memory which I dispute. Read several pages here and you'll find that most of the battery problems are from leaving the charger plugged in.

  12. SpaceBear says:

    They have a 100 percent covered plan for them and their families for life (assuming they serve at least 6 years), along with an excellent pension plan for life.

    They will care about the crisis if it is something the voters want! After all, if they are not acting in the interest of the voters, they will lose their seat and their health care plan.

    Unfortunately, there is so much disagreement between the "left" and the "right" that it is difficult for congress to do anything. In addition, many people (even those who truly need health care reforms) vote based on moral values, leaving health care to be ignored.

  13. Zombien20 says:

    I was absolutely floored by this. There is something breathtaking about both the song and video. Tremendous stuff.

  14. rogercosseboom says:

    This has always been my favorite Herzog film- fucking awesome.

  15. lockypocky says:

    health is different than alot of other noise bands. their style is unique…and this video is perfect for this song…yeaa, health is a very good band xD

  16. LOVER says:

    Well, if she's 40 and perfectly healthy, it's going to cost her about $500 a month to have a low/no deductible plan that covers checkups.

    You BUY it on a month to month basis. If you want low monthly payments, you have to cut the coverage – like take a $10,000 deductible. Or higher. That would cut payments down to maybe $200 a month or less.

    The older she is, the less healthy she is, the more it costs.

    Your best bet, is to find a local, independent agent, who can help you balance cost with coverage.

  17. UVClay says:

    Yessir.

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