Lisa Artis
Deputy CEO, The Sleep Charity
Insomnia is when someone struggles with their sleep for more than three nights a week, for longer than three months. It varies from acute to chronic.
Symptoms and types of insomnia can vary from having problems falling asleep to waking up in the night or waking up too early and not being able to get back to sleep. These factors determine recommended treatment.
Insomnia in the UK is a common problem affecting around one in every three people in its acute form. Around 10–15 in every 100 people suffer from chronic sleep difficulties.
Causes of chronic insomnia
Anxiety, stress and depression are some of the most common causes of chronic insomnia. Having difficulty sleeping can make these symptoms worse.
Many medical conditions can lead to insomnia, such as allergies, gastrointestinal problems, arthritis, asthma, neurological conditions and chronic pain. Common emotional and psychological causes include anger, worry, grief and trauma.
How insomnia affects overall health
Insomnia can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health, including energy levels, mood, productivity and cognitive skills.
A good night’s sleep plays a significant role in healing and repairing the heart and blood vessels. It gives the immune system and cardiovascular system a rest and allows other organs to be restored.
Evidence shows that not sleeping enough may ramp up the ‘fight or flight’ response to stress, releasing hormones that speed up heart rate and raise blood pressure.
A good night’s sleep plays a significant role in
healing and repairing the heart and blood vessels.
Physical and mental health risks
Regular poor sleep puts people at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity and diabetes. Lack of sleep can increase insulin resistance — a risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Lack of sleep also suppresses your immune system, increasing vulnerability to infections and metabolic and hormone changes.
Sleeplessness leads to hallucinations and sensory dysfunction. Sleep deprivation can lead to a mental meltdown.
Standard treatment for insomnia
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended as the first-line treatment. It can help control or eliminate negative thoughts and actions that keep you awake.
When to contact a GP
If you have had difficulty with sleep for over four weeks and it’s affecting your wellbeing, it’s important to see your GP before it becomes chronic.
They may use various methods to determine the cause and rule out other potential sleep disorders. Taking a completed two-week sleep diary to the appointment can help them examine daily sleep patterns.
