Are you 1of the 7 million people in the UK suffering from Insomnia?

That’s nearly one third of the British adult population suffering impaired quality of life at some time in their lives due to chronic Insomnia. 1 in 11 individuals suffer from the condition regularly for longer than 6 months. Are you one of them?

Does it take over 30 minutes for you to fall asleep? Do you ever feel tired during the day? Are you easily distracted? Are you forgetful? Do you wake up during the night? Are you over 60 years old? Do you have difficulty adapting to new situations? Do you wake earlier than you wish to? Are you indecisive? Do you get headaches? Do you suffer from sore eyes? Do you find it hard to find the right words? Do you suffer from depression

If you’ve answered YES to 3 or more of the questions above - chances are you are suffering from Insomnia. In fact, the more TICKS you have – the more you may be prone to the condition, possibly due to decreased levels of melatonin in the brain.

10 POSSIBLE CAUSES OF INSOMNIA Snoring Sleep apnea causes repeated awakenings in the night when airways are obstructed Bladder or prostate problems Menopause for women Anxiety, stress or depression 'Restless legs' syndrome (RLS) Magnesium or iron deficiency Shift work Tea, coffee and other stimulants with caffeine Prescription anti-depressant medication

TYPES OF INSOMNIA

Transient Insomnia: a disturbance of the sleep patterns which lasts for a few nights only. Possible causes – jetlag, illness, excitement, nerves, temporary stress. In most cases the sleeping patterns will return to normal once the cause of the disturbance is removed.

Chronic Insomnia: rare and most serious with episodes that last longer than 2-3 weeks. In this case it is important to check it is not a symptom of some other underlying health issue such as heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, menopause and arthritis. It is advisable to seek help.

Short-term Insomnia: slightly more serious in that it lasts for several weeks. Major life changes such as moving house, job loss, retirement, divorce or serious illness, death of a close friend or relative can cause this type of Insomnia, which may require help to overcome.

Sleep-Onset Insomnia: problems falling asleep, also called Initial Insomnia.

Sleep-Maintenance Insomnia: waking during the night and early in the morning.