Insomnia: Sleep Disorders
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Insomnia
People with insomnia may be plagued by trouble falling asleep, unwelcome awakenings during the night, and fitful sleep. They may experience daytime drowsiness, yet still be unable to nap, and are often anxious and irritable or forgetful and unable to concentrate.
In a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, more than half of adults said they experienced one or more symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights a week. Although it's the most common sleep disturbance, insomnia is not a single disorder, but rather a general symptom like fever or pain. Finding a remedy requires uncovering the cause.
Nearly half of insomnia cases are related to psychological or emotional problems. Stressful events, mild depression, or an anxiety disorder can keep people awake at night. With proper treatment of the underlying cause, day and night functioning usually improve.
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| Last updated: | January 23, 2007 |
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Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.
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