Insomnia and Sleep Disturbance
It can be hard to get through the day when you’re feeling tired, but for some people it can become a chronic problem.
Insomnia can present in different ways including:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Frequent waking during the night
- Inability to stay asleep long enough for a refreshing sleep
The amount that’s needed varies from one person to another, but in adults between 7-9 hours is recommended. The elderly may need less sleep and children/babies need more.
Insomnia can be a persistent problem, or it may come and go, depending on the trigger. Some of the most common underlying causes for insomnia include:
- Anxiety, depression and stress-related disorders
- Other mental health problems such as schizophrenia
- Shift work or disrupted sleeping patterns
- Other lifestyle factors
- Consuming alcohol or caffeine shortly before bed-time
- Environmental factors such as noise, light or uncomfortable sleeping conditions
- Medicines including steroids, antidepressants and treatment for epilepsy
- Physical complaints such as chronic pain and heart problems
While insomnia isn’t life-threatening on its own, it can dominate a person’s quality of life and damage their career and relationships. There is also the risk of excessive sleepiness causing accidents during the day.
Your GP can refer you for treatment for insomnia, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. However, many people find that a combination of relaxation techniques and over-the-counter medication can improve the problem.
Our 24 hour pharmacy carries a wide range of different products which can help with insomnia. This includes natural remedies such as Kalms and tablets which contain promethazine, a type of antihistamine which causes drowsiness and encourages a deeper, more refreshing sleep.
You may also find that breathing strips improve sleep disturbances. If your quality of sleep is poor due to congestion and blocked nasal passages, opening up the airways with breathing strips may make a significant difference. These can also help with snoring too, another common sleeping problem.