Insomnia Health Video

Last Update: October 23, 2008

Video By: LIVESTRONG.COM

Nearly everyone has occasional sleepless nights, perhaps due to stress, heartburn, or drinking too much caffeine or alcohol. Chronic insomnia is defined by problems falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or experiencing regular non-restorative sleep. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and treatments for insomnia in this medical video.

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Transcript of this video

Take Action

Sleep 7 & a half hours a night
See your doctor if you have been having trouble sleeping for over four weeks
Keep up with a regular bedtime schedule
Get some exercise & stay active

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

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SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Sue McGladerry. I'm the medical director from FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'd like to talk to you briefly about the problem of insomnia. Nearly everyone has occasional sleepless nights about one in four of us will admit to it. It can be due to stress, heartburn, may be drinking too much coffee, or an excessive amount of alcohol. Chronic insomnia is defined as a regular or frequent problem occurring without reason. There may be problems falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or waking with a feeling that the sleep hasn't refreshed. About 10% of people suffer from chronic insomnia. It can be due to stress, anxiety, depression, use of stimulants or to changes in the environment or work. It can also arise as a result of long term use of sleep medication. Painful medical condition such as arthritis and fibromyalgia can also disturb sleep. In addition, of course there are changes in the sleep pattern as we age. How much sleep do we actually need? Well this varies from person to person and also changes as we age. The average is about 7-1/2 hours of sleep but the range of healthy normal sleep is from as little as 4 hours per night up to about 10 hours per night. Does it matter if you can't sleep? The problem with insomnia is that it doesn't just affect your energy level and your mood it can also affect your health. Sleep is important for a healthy immune system. Fatigue at any age leads a decreased in mental alertness and the ability to concentrate. Lack of sleep cause by insomnia also causes accidents on the road and at work. When should you see your doctor? If insomnia has been disturbing you during your daytime function for more than 4 weeks, you really need to go and talk to your doctor about it. It may be that some simple changes in your daily routine and habits may result in better sleep. For example, to keep to a regular bedtime schedule, to exercise and stay active or treat any pain adequately, but if you're really having problems with your sleep and those behavioral changes cannot overcome the sleep problem, then your doctor should be able to help you and advise you about further investigations and possible treatments to help you.