A report for World of Magnets by Debbie Shimadry RN Dip, Dip MT
What is insomnia?
Insomnia can be described simply as being disordered sleep. However it is
usually characterised
by a difficulty getting to sleep with or without repeated waking through the
night. It usually results
in a feeling of permanent tiredness.
Most of us will experience insomnia at some point in our life, but it lasts only
a few nights or at most a few weeks and then resolves itself with out treatment. Most common forms
of temporary insomnia are jetlag after changing time zone when going or returning from
holiday, environmental disturbances i.e noise outside the house from neighbours, car alarms, traffic
etc, temporary illness such as a cold , flu or other illness. Some people suffer from chronic
insomnia ( i.e. having trouble getting to sleep or staying a sleep nearly all or every night for a
period of over 3 weeks.)
Who suffers from insomnia?
Insomnia is the most common complaint about sleep. 2 out of 3 adults in the U.K
suffer with chronic insomnia, that’s approx 32 million people. Many studies have shown that
women complain of poor sleep twice as often as men and that most elderly people are awake
for up to one fifth of the night. Studies have also shown that people with anxious
personalities, those suffering from depression and stress are major sufferers of insomnia.
What’s the difference between transient and chronic insomnia?
Transient
Duration – Usually less than 3 - 4 weeks. Causes-Life stress, brief illness, travel,
sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, pain. Effects– Minimal, rapid recovery once the causes have been resolved.
Chronic
Duration– Longer than 3-4 weeks, often permanent. Causes– Old age, long term illness,
chronic pain, depression, chronic stress Effects– Poor concentration/ performance,
muscle aches, reduced immune function,
hormonal imbalances, a state of permanent
tiredness.
What patterns of insomnia are there?
The following is a list of the major patterns of insomnia. These can be both
transient or chronic problems:
1. Sleep onset insomnia i.e. taking longer than 30 minutes to get to sleep.
Caused by sudden anxiety, grief, environmental noise, drugs, depression, stress.
2. Sleep maintenance insomnia i.e. frequent nocturnal awakening which can be at regular
or random intervals. Foe example at 90 minute intervals after periods of distressing REM
sleep ( dream sleep). Random awakenings can occur in sleep apnoecis ( sleep apnoecis
stop breathing for short periods of time which require stimulus from the brain to resume
breathing.
World of Magnets Ltd, 45 Birches Lane, South Wingfield,
Nr Alfreton, Derbyshire. DE55 7LY tel: 0115 8226260/61
magnet therapy is a natural
alternative pain relief treatment for fibromyalgia, gout, arthritis, sciatica and many other chronic
painful conditions.
