Insomnia | fight, even with a neck pillow, the invisible enemy of rest
What is insomnia?
Insomnia is a frequent and debilitating sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or, again, non-restorative sleep. Increasingly widespread in modern society, it can manifest itself in different ways, such as:
- Acute insomnia: lasts less than three months and is often caused by stress, trauma or changes in the sleep-wake cycle.
- Chronic insomnia: Lasts three months or longer and can be caused by a variety of factors, including medical conditions, psychological problems, medications, and poor sleep habits.
- Initial insomnia: difficulty falling asleep.
- Maintenance insomnia: frequent awakenings during the night.
- Terminal insomnia: waking up early in the morning with difficulty falling back to sleep.
Insomnia can have a significant impact on your quality of life, causing tiredness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and an increased risk of accidents and illnesses.
What are the causes of insomnia?
The causes of insomnia can be different and often combine with each other. Some of the most common causes include:
- Psychological factors: stress, anxiety, depression, trauma.
- Medical conditions: chronic pain, gastroesophageal reflux, sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, neurological diseases.
- Medications: Some medications, such as antidepressants, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, can cause insomnia as a side effect.
- Psychoactive substances: caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, drugs can interfere with sleep.
- Poor sleep habits: irregular sleep schedules, daytime naps, use of electronic devices in bed, unconducive sleep environment.
How to fight insomnia
Treatment for insomnia depends on the underlying cause . In some cases, changing your sleep habits may be enough, such as:
- Establish a regular time for going to bed and waking up.
- Create a relaxing and dark sleeping environment.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine before bed.
- Do physical activity regularly, but not in the evening hours.
- Relax before bed with a warm bath, reading or deep breathing techniques.
- Adopt adequate supports to make rest comfortable and able to maintain the right posture. In this regard, an adequate double-wave cervical pillow is the right support to avoid acute pain due to incorrect night posture.
If lifestyle changes are not sufficient, the doctor, after a careful medical history, may recommend other therapies , such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): A type of therapy that helps identify and change thoughts and behaviors that interfere with sleep.
- Medication: Sleeping pills can be helpful in the short term to relieve insomnia symptoms, but they are not a long-term solution. They should only be used under close medical supervision.
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can have a significant impact on your quality of life. However, with the right medical diagnosis and the right treatment, most people suffering from this disorder can improve their rest and general health, both by intervening on their lifestyle and by intervening more in depth with specific tests and therapies. appropriate to the situation.
In addition to the information above, it is important to remember that:
- Always consult a doctor before taking any new medication, even if it is a supplement or herbal product.
- Never stop taking medications prescribed by your doctor without first consulting him.
- Insomnia can be a symptom of a more serious medical condition. It is important to have a complete medical checkup to rule out any underlying health problems.