Oh boy, another sleepless night!
Another visit from your enemy: “insomnia.”
Missing a night’s sleep is uncomfortable, irritating and unpleasant; and those are the nicest things to say about the side effects. Hopefully, though, a good night’s sleep is just a day away.
But what if it’s not? What if it happens again…and again? Many people suffer from chronic insomnia and that can actually be more than just a bother. It can be dangerous.
Chronic insomnia is defined as insomnia that happens at least three nights a week over a period of a month or longer.
Research conducted at the University of Wisconsin in Madison analyzed data on people enrolled in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study. They found that:
- Overall mortality was three times higher among people with chronic insomnia than among people who did not have insomnia.
- Even when looking at the four different types of insomnia, the risk of premature death still stood. In fact, the risk of premature death was two to three times higher among people who struggled to fall asleep, struggled get back to sleep, woke repeatedly, and woke too early.
And even worse, a chronic lack of sleep can increase the dangers of ordinary life. For example: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. With reduced concentration you may also be more prone to falling down stairs and other common household accidents.
If you have insomnia, try some simple home remedies first. If your insomnia persists, it’s probably a good idea to see your family physician. Be prepared to talk about your medical and sleep history (it’s a good idea to keep a “sleep diary” for a few weeks before you go). In some cases, you may be referred to a sleep center for special tests and our experts at Brigham City Community Hospital can help you with this.
Sleep tight!