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:

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.

Insomnia

Video Transcription

Insomnia is experienced by more than a third of American adults. Symptoms include difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking up during the night, waking up too early, daytime fatigue, sleepiness or irritability and difficulty with concentration during the day.

To diagnose insomnia your doctor may recommend keeping a sleep diary for two weeks or in certain circumstances a sleep study. Treating insomnia includes improvement if your sleep habits, avoiding caffeine which disrupts sleep and evaluation by a behavioral therapist to help improve sleep. In some circumstances medication may also be helpful.

Learn more about insomnia

Questions? Contact the Eastern Iowa Sleep Center today.