What is insomnia?

The term insomnia refers to an inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep for an adequate length of time. This may causes chronic tiredness that badly affects your daily life.
This said, it is important to stress that virtually everybody has problems sleeping at some time or other. Stress, depression and worry are well known causes of insomnia. Illness is another possible cause, especially if there is pain or discomfort.

Insomnia, usually temporary, is often categorized by how long it lasts:

• Transient insomnia lasts for a few days.
• Short-term insomnia for no more than three weeks.
• Chronic insomnia occurs when the following characteristics are present:
  • When a person has difficulty falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or has nonrestorative sleep for at least three nights a week for one month or longer.
  • In addition, the patient is distressed and believes that normal daily functioning is impaired because of sleep loss.

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