Insomnia
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is defined as difficulty in falling or staying asleep, and is experienced to a moderate degree by more than a third of American adults. One in ten Americans experiences chronic insomnia, which typically does not go away without treatment.
EISC sleep medicine specialist Dr. Robert J. Struthers explains:
What are the symptoms of insomnia?
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Waking up during the night
- Waking up too early
- Daytime fatigue or sleepiness
- Daytime irritability
- Difficulty concentrating during the day
How is insomnia diagnosed?
In order to diagnose insomnia, a doctor may recommend:
- Keeping a sleep diary for two weeks
- A polysomnogram (sleep study)
What treatment options are available?
Many cases of insomnia will respond to lifestyle changes. If self-treatment is not successful, your doctor may also prescribe a medication.
Learn more about insomnia
- National Institutes of Health: What is Insomnia?
- MedLine Plus: Insomnia
- MedLine Plus: Sleeping Difficulty
- National Sleep Foundation: Can't Sleep? What to Know About Insomnia
- American Sleep Association: Insomnia
Questions? Contact the Eastern Iowa Sleep Center today.
