Insomnia

Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Although the amount of sleep a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition in which it is difficult to get to sleep, or to remain soundly asleep, resulting in too short and too low-quality sleep which affects normal functioning. It causes fatigue and daytime sleepiness. It may be classified as acute, lasting a few days or weeks, or chronic, when it lasts longer than a month.

Insomnia Causes

Insomnia Symptoms

Insomnia Treatment

Insomnia in Pregnancy

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Insomnia in Children

Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Causes of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Treatment of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Middle of the Night Insomnia

Middle of the Night Insomnia and Biphasic Sleeping

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Treatment of Middle-of-the-Night Insomnia

Screen Time and Insomnia

Latest Insomnia News and Research

Meditation eases PTSD symptoms, with transcendental meditation showing major benefits

Research indicates meditation techniques, particularly Transcendental Meditation, significantly alleviate PTSD symptoms, suggesting new avenues for therapy.

19 Dec 2024

Decoding sleep disorders through fairy tales

Some traditional fairy tales and classic children's fiction that have soothed many a child to sleep may also provide accessible and engaging ways to discuss healthy sleep with children, suggest researchers in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

18 Dec 2024

AASM urges permanent telehealth coverage for improved sleep care

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has issued a new position statement advocating for permanent telehealth coverage, emphasizing its essential role in providing high-quality, patient-centered care for individuals with sleep disorders.

16 Dec 2024

College students’ loneliness outweighs screen time in causing insomnia

Being lonely is a bigger hurdle to a good night's sleep for college students than too much time at a computer or other electronic screen, a new study by Oregon State University suggests.

4 Dec 2024

Understanding the role of sleep in dementia and associated illnesses

A new review was published on the cover of Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 16, Issue 21, titled, "Sleep deprivation in dementia comorbidities: focus on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anxiety/depression and thyroid disorders."

2 Dec 2024

Boosters cut long COVID risk significantly

Vaccination, especially booster doses, reduces the risk of long COVID by up to 29%, highlighting its critical role in preventing lingering Omicron-era complications.

25 Nov 2024

Artificial nighttime light increases insomnia risk, especially in smaller cities

Social media and satellite data reveal a strong link between outdoor artificial light at night and rising insomnia rates in China's cities.

24 Nov 2024

Cannabinol enhances sleep in rats, study shows

Research by scientists at the University of Sydney has identified a constituent in the cannabis plant that improves sleep.

11 Nov 2024

New study links shorter time to fall asleep and snoring to higher risk of ovarian decline

Sleep disturbances, including snoring, are linked to diminished ovarian reserve in women, impacting fertility and hormone levels crucial for pregnancy.

5 Nov 2024

Study links obstructive sleep apnea to increased dementia risk in women

A common yet underdiagnosed sleep disorder contributes to the development of dementia among adults -; particularly women, a Michigan Medicine study suggests.

1 Nov 2024

Researchers aim to transform treatment for sleep disorders in military personnel

Traditional solutions for sleep disorders, including medications and cognitive behavioral therapies, often provide insufficient relief for military personnel, a problem researchers from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson will be hoping to solve with a $3 million grant from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

1 Nov 2024

Study reveals impact of daylight saving time on sleep patterns

With the clocks going back this weekend, a new study has found that moving the clocks one hour forward in Spring and one hour back in Autumn has a substantial, but short-lived effect on sleep duration.

25 Oct 2024

Study connects brain volume variations with genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease and ADHD

Unprecedented genome analysis reveals genetic links between brain structure and disorders like Parkinson's and ADHD, paving the way for innovative treatments.

23 Oct 2024

Poor sleep before surgery linked to increased risk of postoperative delirium

People who experience poor sleep in the month before surgery may be more likely to develop postoperative delirium, according to new research being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2024 annual meeting.

20 Oct 2024

Study suggests NSAIDs may lower postoperative delirium risk

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may help reduce patients' risk of postoperative delirium, according to a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2024 annual meeting.

20 Oct 2024

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia linked to reduced postpartum depression

Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) delivered during pregnancy significantly reduces postpartum depressive symptoms in mothers, new research from UBC shows.

17 Oct 2024

Rising concerns over benzodiazepine prescriptions in older stroke survivors

Although there has been a slight downward trend in the prescription of benzodiazepines (depressants that relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, produce sedation and reduce seizures) among older adults over the last decade, the rate of first-time prescriptions for these medications after an ischemic (clot-caused) stroke is still sizable, according to research published today in Stroke, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

17 Oct 2024

Menopause transition linked to increased heart disease risk

The risk of heart disease increases with age for most people, however, for women that may be even more true.

16 Oct 2024

Exploring AI's role in transforming healthcare diagnosis and treatment

How artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize he way healthcare providers diagnose, treat and prevent medical conditions will be explored in the first inaugural lecture of 2024-25 to be held at Aston University on Wednesday 23 October 2024 at 1800 hrs.

14 Oct 2024