Sleep Disorders Insomnia

Insomnia - What's Keeping You Up at Night?

Summary & Participants

Knowing what's keeping you up at night can help you get a handle on insomnia.

Medically Reviewed On: August 04, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: These days, many Americans are having trouble sleeping.

Lauren Broch, PhD/Sleep Specialist: Insomnia is very common, and probably on the rise, just because of the poor habits that we have, the 24/7 type of society we lead. A third of us have some insomnia or some episodes of insomnia, maybe a few weeks of not sleeping that well. And then about 10% of the population has a more chronic form of insomnia.

ANNOUNCER: An inability to fall asleep is just one form insomnia can take.

Lauren Broch, PhD/Sleep Specialist: There are four types of insomnia that we generally see, difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up early or feeling that your sleep just isn’t restorative.

ANNOUNCER: As for the cause of insomnia, there are many possibilities.

Lauren Broch, PhD/Sleep Specialist: A medical condition, maybe chronic pain, a psychiatric condition is very often associated with sleep problems, insomnia. Then there are medications that exacerbate insomnia, or even cause it.

ANNOUNCER: Insomnia can also be caused by stress, poor sleep habits or an underlying sleep disorder. Also, women are twice as likely as men to suffer, and biology may be partly to blame.

Lauren Broch, PhD/Sleep Specialist: Many studies that show that hormonal imbalances, which occur just in a woman’s life cycle, are associated with insomnia.

ANNOUNCER: Whatever the causes, prolonged insomnia can take a serious toll.

Lauren Broch, PhD/Sleep Specialist: It certainly affects your quality of life. On a day-to-day basis, you just don’t feel well. You have trouble concentrating. It’s likely affecting our health, the ability for a person to heal themselves may be compromised.

ANNOUNCER: So don’t let insomnia be your nightly routine.

Lauren Broch, PhD/Sleep Specialist: Become more aware of what the sleep problem is and to discuss it with your doctor and let your doctor and you take it from there.

ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily!