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Insomnia
Definition and Prevalence
Insomnia is an experience of inadequate or poor quality
sleep characterized by one or more of the following:
- difficulty falling asleep
- difficulty maintaining sleep
- waking up too early in the morning
- non-refreshing sleep
Insomnia can also involve daytime consequences such as
- tiredness
- lack of energy
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
Periods of sleep difficulty lasting between
one night and a few weeks are referred to as acute insomnia. Chronic insomnia refers
to sleep difficulty at least three nights per week for one month or more. About 30 -
40 percent of adults indicate some level of insomnia within any given year, and about 10
to 15 percent indicate that the insomnia is chronic and/or severe. The prevalence of
insomnia increases with age and is more common in women. |
