Health Sleep
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What you need to know about…
Insomnia
Not getting enough sleep is likely to leave you feeling drained of energy the next day. Here’s what you should know about persistent sleep problems
Q A
What is insomnia?
According to the NHS, insomnia means you regularly have problems sleeping. It’s a
common problem, but having poor sleep over a long period of time can affect your life significantly. There are lots of types of sleep problems, including:
• Having difficulties falling asleep • Lying awake at night • Waking up for long periods during the night • Waking up early and not being able to get back to sleep
Q A
What are the signs to look out for?
If you have insomnia, you may regularly feel tired and irritable during the day and find it
hard to concentrate on anything. You may find it difficult to do things as well or as much as usual, including work, physical and social activities. If you have insomnia for a long time, you may be affected by depression and anxiety. Other things to look out for include waking up
in the morning and not feeling refreshed, and losing interest in your usual day-to-day activities. And even though you feel tired, you may find it hard to nap during the day.
Sometimes there’s no obvious reason why you can’t sleep well. However the main things that are thought to cause insomnia include:
Q A
• Stress, anxiety or depression • Pain • Snoring or sleep apnoea • Stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine or nicotine • Jet lag • Working night shifts
There are also some medical conditions that can stop you getting a good night’s sleep, including mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder
20 All About health What causes insomnia?
and schizophrenia. Other illnesses that can cause insomnia include an overactive thyroid, restless legs syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Some medications for these conditions can also cause insomnia, says the NHS.
Q A
How is insomnia treated?
Sleeping pills are rarely prescribed these days for insomnia because there’s a risk you can
become dependent on them, plus they can cause serious side effects. So if you go to your GP because you’re affected by insomnia, they may refer you for a treatment called cognitive behavioural therapy. This aims to help you change the thoughts and behaviours that keep you from sleeping well.
Q A
What else can you do?
There are lots of things you can do yourself to improve your sleep quality. For instance,
try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, and do something that relaxes you an hour before bedtime. Your bedroom can make a big difference too, so make sure it’s as dark as possible – try using a sleep mask to keep the light out of your eyes. If noise is a problem, try using ear plugs. Meanwhile avoid smoking or drinking alcohol,
coffee or tea for at least six hours before bedtime, and try not to have a big meal at night. It’s also a good idea to avoid watching television or using digital devices just before going to bed, because the type of light that comes from them can make you feel more awake. Your pharmacist can also help by
recommending a short-term sleep aid. However, these can sometimes make people drowsy the next day, and you shouldn’t drive the day after taking them.
Need more advice about getting a god night’s sleep? Visit your local pharmacy (find your nearest Careway pharmacy by at
www.careway.co.uk/find-a-pharmacy).
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