Counting sheep does absolutely nothing for insomniacs. No, I'm not talking about the much popular MSN username. Insomnia is about those restless nights when you toss and turn - with millions of things running through your mind - and are therefore incapable of finding sleep. We spend almost a third of our lives sleeping. God has made sleep a time of rest for us. However, at times it does feel that we are robbed of this pleasure. So, what exactly is this sleeplessness or insomnia? Dr. Sayed Ziauddin, Medical Director at the Shar Medical Clinic in Jeddah defines insomnia as “a condition of inadequate quantity or quality of sleep.” Dr. Thaseena Sherief, General Practioner at Al Abeer Medical Center adds that, “Insomnia is a symptom and not a standalone diagnosis or a disease.” Clinical insomnia is not something that ought to be taken lightly as it does cause some distress for its victims. Whatever the cause, insomnia results in fatigue and cognitive impairment. Excessive sleeplessness has been linked to learning disabilities in children and cognitive and memory problems in adults. Lack of sleep is also a huge factor behind attention lapses in most sufferers. Insomnia is generally categorized into three types: transient, intermittent and chronic. Transient insomnia is the shortest in duration and lasts only for several nights. There are numerous causes for this type of insomnia. “Mostly this type of insomnia is caused by things a person has done beforehand,” says Dr. Sherief. These include having had an argument, working out physically at night, sleep schedule problems (such as jet lag), side effects from medicines and even a hot shower before bed can throw your sleeping clock awry. “Common causes include the misuse of caffeine, tea or other substances such as cigarettes,” she added. “But let's not forget that sometimes insomnia is caused by something that is to happen in the future such as being excited about an event about to occur soon,” pointed out Dr. Ziauddin. Tooba Zia is a student at the Pakistan International School Jeddah and will soon be giving her board exams. “It is very difficult to fall asleep when you have to study for exams and also when your parents are expecting the best results. That is added pressure,” she said. The second type of insomnia is Intermittent insomnia. This type lasts for over two to three weeks and is more like an on-off version of transient insomnia. Dr. Ziauddin relates its cause to stress and it occurs due to almost the same causative factors as transient insomnia. The most long-lasting, and therefore harmful, type of insomnia is Chronic insomnia which is more complex and lasts for a much longer duration of time. Dr. Sherief points out that this type of insomnia often results from a combination of factors, including frequent changes in the duration of sleep, inactivity, chronic depression, and a hectic lifestyle. Fatimah Shahzad, a Bangladeshi housewife in Jeddah, believes that people's current lifestyle has created many problems. “You, as a parent, are constantly worried about everything. Food, rent, bills etc, but your kids also occupy that worry state and that is the cause of stress,” she asserted. According to Dr. Ziauddin, people normally suffer from Transient insomnia. Around 10 - 15% of the world's population suffers from severe Chronic insomnia, and an additional 25 - 30% suffers from Transient or Intermittent insomnia. He further adds that not only insomnia but other sleep disorders are also rapidly growing and medical interest in them has peaked over the past several years owing to their significant impact on health and the society at large. So much so, that the first National Symposium on Sleep Disorders was organized by King Abdul Aziz Medical City and was held on the last two days of January last year in Jeddah. In fact, sleep studies have also recently been introduced in the Kingdom. Dr. Ahmed BaHammam is the Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at King Khalid University Hospital and an Associate Professor at the College of Medicine at King Saud University in Riyadh, and he has a distinguished career in sleep disorders. On his personal website, he offers patients suffering from sleep disorders the chance to visit the center for an overnight sleep study. His website also offers a wide range of advice and support to people either suffering from clinical insomnia or who experience occasional sleeplessness. Dr. Sherief delivers hope to insomniacs, “The main thing to remember is: treating the symptoms of insomnia without addressing the main cause is rarely successful. The cause has to be identified in order to manage and control the underlying problem and this requires you to consult your doctor who will come up with the appropriate diagnosis.” – SGDr. Sherief's tips for those suffering from occasional insomnia: Sleep as much as you feel like sleeping Try to get some exercise during the day to tire your body out Establish a bedtime routine e.g. read a book Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks Avoid smoking, especially close to bedtime Try to remain relaxed at all times __
