Introduction

Sleeplessness is not so uncommon. The elderly suffer more from this. But youngsters are also not immune from this. This is mainly owing to faulty routines, overthinking, habitual late sleeping. Such habits may lead to sleeplessness known as insomnia. Then they get very sleep, which is disturbed soon and they also get anxiety as a result. many turn to drugs and pills to get sleep. The term 'insomnia' is coined after Roman god of sleep, Somnus. Usually this is dismissed as an ordinary old age disorder and no more.  

Definition 

Insomnia has been defined as 'difficulties initiating and/ or maintaining sleep associated with impairments of day time functioning or marked distress for more than one month. Mostly elders suffer from this disorder but youngsters are not immune from this. Continuous insomnia disorder may lead to other difficulties like depression, memory problem, risk to heart attack and automobile accidents. 

Insomnia could be primary or secondary.  Primary insomnia  is that which cannot be related to medical or psychiatric/ environmental causes. The insomnia disorder that can be related to other problems like psychiatric or environment condition is secondary. Insomnia may be Transient, acute or chronic. 

Transient Insomnia 

Transient insomnia is not so serious. Everyone feels some time or other. Some can sleep only when there is some dim light. Others need total dark. Some are disturbed by any noise while others may sleep soundly even if there is very bright light and high volume music. If one meets with an environment in which he cannot sleep, such disorder may occur. But when his normal desired environment is restored, he will get sleep. Some feel difficulty in sleeping at a new location. Such type of insomnia is nothing but sleep disorder, which is normal. 

Acute insomnia

When some one cannot sleep well for more than one month, he is said to be suffering from acute insomnia. Such disorder is characterized by difficulty in falling asleep or  sleeping without breaks.  Such sleep is not refreshing. One remains stressed even after sleep. This is also called short term insomnia. 

Chronic  insomnia 

When there is difficulty in properly sleeping for a prolonged period lasting for more than a month, this is chronic insomnia. High level of stress or shifts in the levels of cytokines ( a small protein released by cells. This affects interaction between cells or in behavior of cells).  The effects may be muscular fatigue, hallucinations (feeling or seeing unreal things) or mental fatigue.     

Prevention of insomnia 

 It is necessary to maintain a consistent sleep schedule. Even if one does not sleep well, Going to bed and also getting up at scheduled time daily may restore proper sleep especially when the disorder is not acute. It is also necessary to avoid caffeinated drinks during the eight hours before going to bed.  Exercise  helps to beat insomnia but this should not be exactly before going to bed.  It helps to listen to light music and easy reading before sleep.  Reading serious material and watching dreadful serials on TV may disturb sleep. 

There is lot of confusion about affects of insomnia disorder. Many worry that this may be fatal. Can lack of sleep really kill.  Some view that there are very bad consequences of lack of sleep. On the other hands, others almost ignore its affects thinking nothing bad happens. There are some examples of sleep deprivation that had no long term affects as individuals were normal after getting some sleep. But sleep deprivation and insomnia are not same.   Nobody would get no sleep at all owing to insomnia disorder. 

In fact, insomnia by itself is not so harmful.  But this may be accompanied by anxiety, forgetfulness,  dementia. This may also develop to  Alzheimer. This incapacitates an individual to even move or do small things like picking an item. A very famous leader George Fernandez suffers from this. Recently, RSS leader Sudarshan died. He was suffering from dementia.   

 Fatal Familal Insomnia that could kill 

There is a kind of insomnia called FFI or Fatal Familial Insomnia. Only about one hundred persons have been so far affected by this. This causes panic, anxiety, weight loss, dementia, hallucinations etc.  Ultimately, this may result in death also.  The disorder is attributable to neurological degeneration of the brain. This is linked to a rare abnormal protein called ‘prion’.   

Conclusion

We may conclude that insomnia is curable in most cases by forming regular habits and change life style and avoid overthinking. But when this is acute, it is necessary to take medical advice and treatment.