In-depth analysis of insomnia: classification of types, causes, and identification of clinical symptoms

In a broad sense, insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep when you need sleep and to wake up effectively to work. Some sleep researchers define insomnia as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, waking up too early in the morning, or a combination of these. Insomnia is classified into "transient," "short-term," and "long-term" insomnia based on its severity. Transient insomnia often occurs in people with normal sleep patterns under stress. Cross-time zone travel or short-term hospitalization can sometimes cause transient insomnia. Typical short-term insomnia can last up to 3 weeks, and most patients have a stressful living environment. Long-term or chronic insomnia often lasts for years or months. This type of insomnia often occurs in people who abuse alcohol or drugs. There is also "conditional insomnia," which is when past experiences tell them that they are likely to have trouble sleeping under certain conditions. It is estimated that one-third of the total population in the United States suffers from insomnia to some degree, with women more affected than men. People with insomnia do not necessarily have the type of sleep disturbance that can be detected by an electroencephalogram (EEG). Researchers have found that insomniacs sometimes doze off for half an hour or more, and sometimes even sleep for half the night without waking up. Insomniacs have problems that cannot be detected by electroencephalogram (EEG) tests; their sleep quality is extremely poor, yet they always blame it on insufficient sleep. Insomnia is not a functional disorder, but a symptom caused by a variety of psychological or organic diseases. Depression, anxiety, and adverse reactions to stress factors can all cause insomnia. Many researchers believe that all of the above-mentioned adverse mental states lead to changes in brain chemicals, thereby causing insomnia. Organic diseases that cause chronic insomnia include: duodenal ulcers, angina pectoris, liver and kidney diseases, arthritis, migraines, pruritus, asthma, and sleep apnea. Noise and inappropriate room temperature can also cause insomnia. Some behaviors can themselves worsen insomnia, such as: prolonged bed rest, irregular sleep schedules, napping, drug abuse, and excessive alcohol consumption. Smokers are also more prone to insomnia. Another unspoken cause of insomnia is "insomnia phobia," the fear of not being able to sleep from the outset, which makes it difficult to fall asleep throughout the night. Of all the treatments for insomnia, medication is perhaps the worst. These medications are temporarily effective for insomnia, but become ineffective after about three weeks, requiring an increase in dosage. Some sleeping pills, such as clomiphene citrate, remain in the body for a long time, which can decrease daytime responsiveness and reduce the visual-motor coordination required for driving. Long-term use of sleeping pills can also lead to addiction. Barbiturates can be fatal at high doses and are highly addictive. Barbiturates also suppress REM sleep, causing a rebound effect upon discontinuation, leading to vivid dreams and daytime fatigue. When using tranquilizers such as clomiphene citrate, the dosage should be as low as possible and the duration as short as possible. For short-term insomnia, experts recommend practicing good sleep hygiene. If ineffective, tranquilizers should only be used for up to three weeks. Experts generally advise that sleeping pills should not be taken for more than three nights, and that medication should be stopped once one or two nights of good sleep have occurred.