An insomniac is a person who suffers from insomnia. According to the Mayo Clinic, most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. If you can't get to sleep or stay asleep, or consistently wake up feeling like you haven't gotten enough rest, you may have insomnia---particularly if the lack of feeling rested affects your day-to-day activities.
Frequency
Mayoclinic.com states that "more than one-third of adults have insomnia at some time," with as many as 10 to 15 percent of adults suffering from chronic insomnia. Your doctor may use a sleep questionnaire to help determine if you suffer from insomnia, and may ask you to keep a sleep diary or even spend a night at a sleep testing center.
Definition
There are two main types of insomnia, both of which are characterized by similar symptoms. If the insomnia itself is a symptom of another condition---for example, it could be a side effect of medication---it is classified as secondary insomnia. If the insomnia doesn't appear to be a symptom of another condition, but instead is the causative condition in and of itself, it is called primary insomnia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of insomnia include problems falling asleep, problems staying asleep, waking up too early or not feeling rested after a full night's sleep. Insomniacs may suffer from symptoms during the day, too, as a result of missing out on restful sleep; these include fatigue, sleepiness, problems with focus or attention, uncharacteristic errors, tension headaches, gastrointestinal irritations and general irritability.
Prevention
Certain lifestyle changes and healthy habits may help prevent or reduce insomnia. These include staying out of bed unless you're sleeping, sticking to a regular sleep schedule, eating lightly if at all before going to bed, exercising regularly, avoiding substances such as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol that may interfere with your sleep, especially late in the day, and using the bed only for sleep or sex, not for other activities.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for insomnia include being a woman, taking substances such as caffeine, nicotine or alcohol, being over 60 years of age, having a mental health disorder and having an irregular sleep schedule.
Remedies
Melatonin and valerian are both dietary supplements sometimes used to treat insomnia, although the Mayo Clinic states that valerian has been proven to be no more useful than a placebo. Insomnia can also be treated by the use of relaxation techniques, light and cognitive therapies.
