What is insomnia, and what are the three deadly reasons we can't get enough sleep? It is stated that we need eight hours of sleep for peak performance.
Most of us work best on eight hours that includes REM time.
To discover your optimum sleep requirement, keep a journal.
Record when you fall asleep, when you wake, how long you stay awake, time you get out of bed, and how you function the following day.
The main reason behind a journal is simple.
We want to identify patterns, habits.
This keeps us on top of what we are actually doing.
Example, what do you do at bedtime? Indulge in a slice of chocolate cake? Watch TV? Read a mystery? At bedtime, set aside stress, do some deep breathing, maybe stretch a little just to sooth your body down.
Turn on some calming music, dim the lights and relax.
Avoid caffeine.
Take vitamins in the morning.
Dehydration is also known to cause insomnia so drink plenty of fluids.
Frequent urination keeps some people awake so do not be drinking all those fluids just before going to bed.
Exercise is a sleep aid, but not just before bedtime.
Here are some deadly disorders relative to insomnia..
Fatal Familial Insomnia is not treatable.
A mutation of the protein prion gene, it causes symptoms similar to those of Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Mad Cow Disease.
Though rare, the disease is rapidly fatal.
Sleep apnea is a deadly cause of insomnia.
Sleep apnea occurs when the sleeper stops breathing and doesn't wake.
He/she may die, the good news is that sleep apnea is treatable.
Depression is a treatable contributor to insomnia.
If the same thought or thoughts roll around and around in your head, and you have repetitive, imaginary conversations, consider depression treatment.
All in all if you are suffering with insomnia ask for help, there are plenty of people out there who would be happy to share advice.