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Tossing and Turning
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Seems like half the country is up watching the 3 a.m. infomercials
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By Kalia Doner
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MediZine's Healthy Living Second Quarter 2006
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If you notice your television screen isn’t the only one in the neighborhood flickering through the early morning hours, don’t be surprised. More than 35 million Americans suffer from long-lasting insomnia, and 20 to 30 million more may be tossing and turning occasionally. According to the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, insomnia can show up as difficulty falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night, waking up too early, or experiencing unrefreshing sleep.
For people with occasional insomnia, the cause is often stress, environmental noise, a drug side effect or jet lag or other sleep/wake problems. Depression, kidney disease, heart failure, asthma, restless legs syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism and arthritis may cause chronic insomnia. Misuse of caffeine, alcohol or other substances can also play a role, as can chronic stress.
Tired & Sick
Insomnia can lead to a host of physical and emotional effects. “Lack of sleep can cause memory and mood problems, and may affect immune function, which could lead to an increased incidence of infection and illnesses,” says Bob Rappaport, M.D., a drug reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If you’re among the sleepless, talk to your doctor.
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