Insomnia: Symptoms, Causes and Natural Remedies

About Insomnia

It is not unusual to have sleep troubles from time to time. But, if you feel that you do not get enough sleep or satisfying sleep, you may have insomnia, a sleep disorder.

People with insomnia may have difficulty falling asleep,waking up often during the night and have trouble going back to sleep.Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as sleepiness,fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability.

Insomnia can vary in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. Insomnia can be short-term (called acute insomnia) or last a long time (called chronic insomnia). It can also come and go (or be intermittent), with periods of time when a person has no sleep problems. Acute (short-term) insomnia can last from one night to a few weeks. It is often caused by emotional or physical discomfort, and can be related to a single specific event. Causes of acute insomnia can include:

• significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, moving)
• illness
• environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep

Treatment for Insomnia

Acute, or short-term insomnia may not require treatment. But if your insomnia makes it hard to function during the day because you are sleepy and tired, your health care provider may prescribe sleeping pills for a limited time.

Treatment for chronic (long-term) insomnia includes first treating any underlying conditions or health problems that are causing the insomnia. If insomnia continues, your health care provider may suggest behavioral therapy or medication.

The amino acid, L-tryptophan, has been used successfully for people with insomnia, presumably because it is converted to the chemical messenger, serotonin. According to one preliminary trial, L-tryptophan supplementation was 100% effective at promoting sleep in people who awaken between three to six times per night...

References for Insomnia Article 

• Schneider-Helmert D, Spinweber CL. Evaluation of L-tryptophan for treatment of insomnia: A review. Psychopharmacology (Berlin) 1986;89:1–7.
• National Institutes of Health