Why would you be experiencing difficulty sleeping
Trouble sleeping can involve difficulty falling asleep just by lying down at night, waking up too early in the morning or waking up frequently during the night. It can also involve combinations of these patterns.
Everyone has an occasional sleepless night and most of them this is not a problem. However, up to 25% of Americans report occasional problems sleeping. Chronic sleep problems affect about 10% of people.
Lack of sleep can affect your ability to carry out daily responsibilities because you are too tired or have trouble concentrating. All types of insomnia can lead to daytime drowsiness, poor concentration and inability to feel refreshed and rested in the morning.
Most adults do best with about 8 hours sleep each night until 60 years of age after age, 6 hours may be sufficient. Even though the elderly need less sleep, almost half of people over 60 experience some degree of insomnia.
The best measure of the amount of sleep needed is the way you feel. If you awaken feeling refreshed, you are getting enough sleep. For some, this may take only 4 hours, while others may need up to 10 hours of sleep to feel rested.
The use of drugs for treating insomnia may serve in certain situations, but there are potential risks. Antihistamines (the main ingredient in sleeping pills over the counter) can lead to dependence, tolerance and time can affect memory. Sedatives should be used under the close care of a physician because it can also cause tolerance or dependence. Stopping these medications can cause rebound insomnia and withdrawal.
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