Insomnia Treatment

Insomnia is when you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night. Getting enough sleep is important for your health. When you have trouble sleeping, it can affect your daily life. You might feel tired, irritable, or like you are unable to focus. Insomnia can make other cancer-related conditions and symptoms worse, such as pain, fatigue, depression or anxiety. It can also cause or worsen other conditions, like high blood pressure. Insomnia can make it harder for you to cope with cancer and make you feel more isolated. Relieving symptoms, such as insomnia and its causes, is an important part of your care. This is called palliative care or supportive care and is provided along with treatment for the cancer. Talk with your health care team about any problems you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms. Your doctor may recommend that you visit a palliative care specialist or another doctor trained to help patients manage symptoms like insomnia. What causes ...

What Is Insomnia? Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling and/or staying asleep. The condition can be short-term (acute) or can last a long time (chronic). It may also come and go. Acute insomnia lasts from 1 night to a few weeks. Insomnia is chronic when it happens at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more. Types of Insomnia There are two types of insomnia: primary and secondary. Primary insomnia: This means your sleep problems aren’t linked to any other health condition or problem. Secondary insomnia : This means you have trouble sleeping because of a health condition (like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn); pain medication ; or substance use (like alcohol). Insomnia Causes Causes of primary insomnia include: Stress related to big life events, like a job loss or change, the death of a loved one, divorce, or moving Things around you like noise, light, or temperature Changes to your sleep schedule like jet lag, a new shift at work, or ba...