Sleep is an important activity for health. The human body needs adequate sleep for self-repair and resetting functions. Most adults need at least 8 hours of sleep in the night to feel well-rested. However, this need is difficult for some people to fulfill because it is caused by various things, one of which is insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder, in the form of difficulty of starting sleep, difficulty in maintaining sleep, or waking up too early resulting in insufficient sleep quality and quantity. Insomnia may cause disorder in regular body recovery, which can lead to serious health problems.
According to the National Institute for Health, insomnia can affect a person's health conditions by:
> Increasing the risk of health problems, such as strokes, asthma attacks, seizures, lowered immune system, obesity, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure or hypertension, and heart disease.
> Increasing the risk of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, confusion, and frustration.
> Increasing the risk of accidents due to driving in a drowsy and tired condition caused by insomnia. Besides, insomnia can also affect a sufferer's performance at work or school.
> Shortening life expectancy. This is based on the results of an analysis of 16 Trusted Source studies that aimed to see the correlation between sleep duration and death, involving more than 1 million participants and covering 112,566 death rates. The results of the analysis showed that getting less sleep increased the risk of death by 12 percent, compared with those who slept 7 to 8 hours per night. Additionally, a recent study aimed at looking at the effects of insomnia and persistent death over 38 years found that people with persistent insomnia had a 97 percent higher risk of dying.
In mild cases, insomnia can often be cured with good sleep habit so it doesn't need treatment. If insomnia makes it difficult for the person to carry out daily activities, the doctor may prescribe sleeping pills for a short time. For chronic insomnia, treatment is needed for underlying health conditions that cause patients awake.
(Medical Affairs/FH)
References:
Bonnet H. M, Arand D.L. 2021.Evaluation and diagnosis of insomnia in adults. UpToDate
Healthline.2020.Effect of Insomnia On the Body.http://www.healthline.com/health/insomnia-concerns#overview1
Insomnia.2020. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/insomnia/
Webmed. 2020. Insomnia. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/insomnia-causes
Healthline.2020.Effect of Insomnia on the Body.http://www.healthline.com/health/insomnia-concerns#overview1
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