To fully understand the extent of devastation, not to mention the frustrations that lack of sleep brings, we must first learn about sleep and its role in our lives.

When we were young, our parents often told us to have plenty of sleep.  Back then, we don’t understand the importance of sleep.  But as we grow older, bodily changes occurred, and sleep has a lot to do with it.

Many people have misconceptions that when we dozed off, there is not much action happening inside our body and brain.  Well it’s time to wake up.  While we were sleeping, 3 R’s are going—recharging, rejuvenating and repairing.  It is the time for our brain to sort out the events that had happened during the day.  At the same time, for our body to repair our cells and tissues.

Knowing all that information about sleep, it is hard to imagine the negative consequences of sleeplessness or insomnia.  Although some people can still function normally with just few hours of sleep, others may need as much as 10 hours of rest.  But the average hours of sleep in adults is 8 hours.  When insomnia hits you, don’t expect that you will have decent sleep at night.

There are 2 forms of insomnia, the primary and secondary.  In primary insomnia, there is no specific cause, whereas in secondary insomnia, there is/are underlying causes behind it.

Here’s a list of the side effects of insomnia that can affect us mentally and physically.

1. Personality change.  Most sufferers are irritable and have the tendency for angry outburst.  Mood swings and depression are not uncommon.
2. Lack of concentration.  Daily activities and work performance are greatly affected.  The normally easy tasks seem complicated.
3. Sleeplessness can result to frequent headaches.  This is a common side effect, which lead to some people to rely on pain killers or sleeping pills.
4. Insomniacs can be prone to accidents.  They should not operate machinery or drive a car because they might fall asleep, and can hurt themselves or others.
5. Health condition is compromise.  Insomniacs are most likely to suffer from heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.
6. Relationships can suffer.  Due to lack of sleep, you may find it difficult to control your temper or moods.
7. Hallucinations can occur in some cases of insomnia.

If you are experiencing the effects of sleep deprivation mentioned above, it is important that you seek medical treatment before it gets worse.  There are therapies that can help you deal with your problem, and will able you to sleep soundly.

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3. What are the Signs and Symptoms of Insomnia?

When a person sets aside enough time to sleep and is not disturbed by such things as loud noises, and yet still has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, this condition is called insomnia. It affects almost all of us at least occasionally. Many suffer at times from what is called temporary or transient insomnia, in which the sleep disruption goes on for a period of days or weeks. This is usually caused by stress of some kind, such as worry about an upcoming exam. When difficulty with falling asleep or staying asleep persists over a long period of time, this is called chronic insomnia, and is a problem for a much smaller quantity of people. For a few unfortunates, chronic insomnia is a lifelong affliction. Insomnia side effects can range from minor inconveniences to much more serious problems.

The more minor side effects of insomnia include personality changes such as increased irritability, a general feeling of tiredness, difficulty with concentration, and slower reflexes. These effects, while not serious in themselves if they are not chronic, can lead to other more serious problems. For example, the insomnia side effect of having slower reflexes can lead to having a traffic accident on the way to work after a sleepless night. Increased irritability can lead to marital problems and other relationship conflicts.

The more serious side effects of insomnia include depression, which can be severe enough to lead to suicide, and a weakened immune system, which can cause people to get infections and illnesses more easily. With prolonged insomnia, it is possible for people to have heart problems or even experience hallucinations.

If a person feels sleepy during the daytime or wakes up without a feeling of refreshment, these insomnia side effects are a good indication some treatment for insomnia is in order. Fortunately there are several effective ones, ranging from avoidance of certain foods before going to sleep, establishing a regular bedtime routine, and increased exercise.

Related posts:

1. What is Insomnia and How does it Affect Daily Living?
2. How Early Can Teenage Insomnia Start?
3. What are the The Side effects of Insomnia