Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Insomnia?What Is Sleep Apnea?Frequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Insomnia?
What Is Sleep Apnea?
Frequently Asked Questions
Sleep apneaandinsomniaare both common sleep disorders. Sleep apnea occurs when there is a repeated air blockage in the upper airway or a pause in breathing during sleep.Insomnia is when a person has difficulty falling or staying asleep. It can be short-term or chronic.Both can negatively affect your quality of life and cause health problems if left untreated.
Insomnia is when someone has trouble falling or staying asleep. Insomnia can be short-term, as in a few nights or weeks, or chronic, which lasts for months or even years.
In many cases, short-term insomnia results from dailystress, changes to your schedule, or an environmental change, such as moving to another time zone.
Symptoms
Difficulty falling or staying asleep are the primary symptoms of insomnia. However, many other symptoms can result from a lack of sleep, including:
Symptoms of short-term insomnia may go away on their own once the temporary situation that caused it is over. However, short-term insomnia can become chronic, especially if the stress is not processed or managed effectively.
Complications of Chronic InsomniaLeft untreated, complications of chronic insomnia can lead to serious health problems or make current health conditions worse, such as:Asthmaor other breathing problemsHeart arrhythmia,hypertension, orheart diseaseChronic pain issuesMental health issues such asdepressionandanxietySubstance abuseInflammation andimmune systemissuesObesity
Complications of Chronic Insomnia
Left untreated, complications of chronic insomnia can lead to serious health problems or make current health conditions worse, such as:Asthmaor other breathing problemsHeart arrhythmia,hypertension, orheart diseaseChronic pain issuesMental health issues such asdepressionandanxietySubstance abuseInflammation andimmune systemissuesObesity
Left untreated, complications of chronic insomnia can lead to serious health problems or make current health conditions worse, such as:
Causes
Studies estimate that insomnia affects between 10%-30% of adults worldwide, though some studies suggest even higher rates.
Some factors that may put you at a higher risk of developing insomnia include:
Treatment
Treatment for insomnia requires a diagnosis from your healthcare provider. You will need to discuss symptoms and the duration of your insomnia.
Upon diagnosis, there are several treatment options. In many cases, complementing treatments with other treatments may help get the best overall results. The goal of treatment is to get back to normal sleep conditions and resolve the symptoms of insomnia.
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a form of psychological therapy that is often the first line of treatment because it doesn’t require medication. Studies have also found CBT to reduce insomnia across many different populations effectively.
A licensed therapist can provide CBT to help patients identify stressors causing insomnia and replace them with healthier attitudes and beliefs.
There are also several classes of medications used to assist with insomnia. Often medication is used along with CBT for more significant results.
Some medications used to treat insomnia include:
Antidepressants and antipsychotics can also help treat insomnia in some cases.
It is important to discuss medication side effects and goals of treatment with your healthcare provider.
Central sleep apnea, a less common type, occurs if the brain doesn’t signal the muscles that help breathing.This results in breathing pauses due to a lack of respiratory effort.
Sleep apnea repeatedly disrupts sleep and prevents those who suffer from it from achieving a good night’s sleep.
Some of thesymptoms of sleep apneainclude:
Side Effects of Untreated Sleep ApneaUntreated sleep apnea can result in lower quality of life and result in accidents and lost productivity at work. In addition, there can be serious side effects of untreated sleep apnea, including:Cardiovascular diseaseDepressionCognitive impairment, which can make driving or operating machinery unsafeMetabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes
Side Effects of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Untreated sleep apnea can result in lower quality of life and result in accidents and lost productivity at work. In addition, there can be serious side effects of untreated sleep apnea, including:Cardiovascular diseaseDepressionCognitive impairment, which can make driving or operating machinery unsafeMetabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes
Untreated sleep apnea can result in lower quality of life and result in accidents and lost productivity at work. In addition, there can be serious side effects of untreated sleep apnea, including:
The most common cause of obstructive sleep apnea in kids isenlarged tonsilsoradenoids.
In adults, obstructive sleep apnea is associated with:
Causes for central sleep apnea may include:
Sometimes people who have obstructive sleep apnea can develop central sleep apnea.This is known as “mixed sleep apnea.”
How Alcohol Affects Sleep Apnea
The primary treatment options for sleep apnea include:
Sleep apnea may also improve if underlying medical conditions that caused it are addressed and treated.
Insomnia vs. Sleep ApneaInsomnia involves difficulty in falling or staying asleep. Sleep apnea disrupts sleep from a repeated air blockage or a pause in breathing. Insomnia and sleep apnea can both negatively affect your sleep quality and cause serious health issues if not addressed and treated correctly.
Insomnia vs. Sleep Apnea
Insomnia involves difficulty in falling or staying asleep. Sleep apnea disrupts sleep from a repeated air blockage or a pause in breathing. Insomnia and sleep apnea can both negatively affect your sleep quality and cause serious health issues if not addressed and treated correctly.
Summary
Sleep apnea occurs when there is a repeated air blockage in the upper airway or a pause in breathing during sleep. Insomnia is when a person has difficulty falling or staying asleep. Both can be chronic issues that lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
Sleep problems of any kind can be exhausting and frustrating, especially if you don’t know why they are occurring. Fortunately, treatments are available that may help you. If you are experiencing any sleep-related issues, see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
You may suspect you have sleep apnea based on your symptoms, or if you sleep with a partner who observes symptoms. The only way to receive a diagnosis for sleep apnea is to see your healthcare provider, who can examine your airway and discuss your symptoms.
People who have insomnia may have undiagnosed physical or psychological issues or other reasons for their inability to sleep. The best way to help is to encourage them to talk to their healthcare provider. Fortunately, a provider can offer many helpful treatment options available for insomnia.
The half-life of caffeine is about 5 hours. However, it can range anywhere from 1.5 to about 9 hours, depending on the person.In many cases, people will need to wait until their body metabolizes it to sleep. The best way to prevent caffeine insomnia is to avoid it entirely during the second half of the day.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Insomnia.Sleep Foundation.Symptoms of insomnia.Bhaskar S, Hemavathy D, Prasad S.Prevalence of chronic insomnia in adult patients and its correlation with medical comorbidities.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(4):780. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.201153Sleep Foundation.What causes insomnia?.Krystal AD, Prather AA, Ashbrook LH.The assessment and management of insomnia: an update.World Psychiatry. 2019;18(3):337-352. doi:10.1002/wps.20674University of Florida Health.Sleep-related breathing disorders.Osman AM, Carter SG, Carberry JC, Eckert DJ.Obstructive sleep apnea: current perspectives.Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:21-34. doi:10.2147/NSS.S124657Muza RT.Central sleep apnoea-a clinical review.J Thorac Dis. 2015;7(5):930-937. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.04.45American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea treatment options.Lee LA, Yu JF, Lo YL, et al.Energy types of snoring sounds in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a preliminary observation.PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e53481. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053481Research I of M (US) C on MN.Pharmacology of caffeine.National Academies Press (US);2001.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Insomnia.Sleep Foundation.Symptoms of insomnia.Bhaskar S, Hemavathy D, Prasad S.Prevalence of chronic insomnia in adult patients and its correlation with medical comorbidities.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(4):780. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.201153Sleep Foundation.What causes insomnia?.Krystal AD, Prather AA, Ashbrook LH.The assessment and management of insomnia: an update.World Psychiatry. 2019;18(3):337-352. doi:10.1002/wps.20674University of Florida Health.Sleep-related breathing disorders.Osman AM, Carter SG, Carberry JC, Eckert DJ.Obstructive sleep apnea: current perspectives.Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:21-34. doi:10.2147/NSS.S124657Muza RT.Central sleep apnoea-a clinical review.J Thorac Dis. 2015;7(5):930-937. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.04.45American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea treatment options.Lee LA, Yu JF, Lo YL, et al.Energy types of snoring sounds in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a preliminary observation.PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e53481. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053481Research I of M (US) C on MN.Pharmacology of caffeine.National Academies Press (US);2001.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Insomnia.Sleep Foundation.Symptoms of insomnia.Bhaskar S, Hemavathy D, Prasad S.Prevalence of chronic insomnia in adult patients and its correlation with medical comorbidities.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(4):780. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.201153Sleep Foundation.What causes insomnia?.Krystal AD, Prather AA, Ashbrook LH.The assessment and management of insomnia: an update.World Psychiatry. 2019;18(3):337-352. doi:10.1002/wps.20674University of Florida Health.Sleep-related breathing disorders.Osman AM, Carter SG, Carberry JC, Eckert DJ.Obstructive sleep apnea: current perspectives.Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:21-34. doi:10.2147/NSS.S124657Muza RT.Central sleep apnoea-a clinical review.J Thorac Dis. 2015;7(5):930-937. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.04.45American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea treatment options.Lee LA, Yu JF, Lo YL, et al.Energy types of snoring sounds in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a preliminary observation.PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e53481. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053481Research I of M (US) C on MN.Pharmacology of caffeine.National Academies Press (US);2001.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Sleep apnea.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Insomnia.
Sleep Foundation.Symptoms of insomnia.
Bhaskar S, Hemavathy D, Prasad S.Prevalence of chronic insomnia in adult patients and its correlation with medical comorbidities.J Family Med Prim Care. 2016;5(4):780. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.201153
Sleep Foundation.What causes insomnia?.
Krystal AD, Prather AA, Ashbrook LH.The assessment and management of insomnia: an update.World Psychiatry. 2019;18(3):337-352. doi:10.1002/wps.20674
University of Florida Health.Sleep-related breathing disorders.
Osman AM, Carter SG, Carberry JC, Eckert DJ.Obstructive sleep apnea: current perspectives.Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:21-34. doi:10.2147/NSS.S124657
Muza RT.Central sleep apnoea-a clinical review.J Thorac Dis. 2015;7(5):930-937. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.04.45
American Sleep Apnea Association.Sleep apnea treatment options.
Lee LA, Yu JF, Lo YL, et al.Energy types of snoring sounds in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a preliminary observation.PLoS One. 2012;7(12):e53481. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053481
Research I of M (US) C on MN.Pharmacology of caffeine.National Academies Press (US);2001.
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