Overview of Insomnia

Insomnia is a term that many of us are familiar with. Basically, it is a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. Contrary to popular belief, insomnia is not a disease, but rather, a symptom. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Whether you are a student or worker, insomnia undoubtedly affects your daytime activities and ability to process information. Common problems include difficulty memorizing telephone numbers, grocery lists and can often lead to accidents on the road due to reduced alertness.

In your fight for better sleep, rest assured that you are not alone. Here are some alarming statistics:

-According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in year 2007, approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia on a regular basis each year. Insomnia is 1.4 times more common in women than in men.
-20-40% of all adults have insomnia in the course of any year
-1 out of 3 people have insomnia at some point in their lives
-Over 70 million Americans suffer from disorders of sleep and wakefulness and of these 70 million, 60% have a chronic disorder.

What this means is more than half of them have an underlying condition that will affect them for the rest of their lives! If you suffer from insomnia, worry no more as I will help you understand your condition, and tackle your problem. Get ready for better sleep - tonight!