Sleeplessness – Causes and Effects

Sleeplessness (Insomnia) is a sleep disorder in which a person has difficulty, chronic inability to fall asleep or get a sound sleep for an adequate length of time. Sleep is vital to our health and wellbeing. An average person spends about one third of his life sleeping. Normally people (adults) require about 7-9 hours of sound sleep to function well but some people can do very well even with 4-5 hours of sleep. If the body does not get enough sleep then it becomes a lot easier to eventually get other health problems due to the fact your body is rundown and is therefore more susceptible to picking up various germs. Sleeplessness can of course also be an indication of another underlying health problem which is why it is important to have it checked out by your doctor.

Sleeplessness is usually associated with emotional or mental tension, anxiety, depression, work problems, financial stress or unsatisfactory sex life. While insomnia is not usually related to any physical illness there are exceptions. While Information on Sleep Disorders is scarce in Africa, African Diaspora has a substantial share of this problem. Michael Jackson had such bad insomnia that he said couldn't be cured by any oral drug and urged his longtime physician Allan Metzger to give him an anesthetic to sleep.

Organizations such as National Sleep Foundation, The American Sleep Association, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Center on Sleep Disorders Research and others provide sufficient information on causes and effects of sleeplessness on the individuals, communities, and societies. Most of these organizations offer a robust Sleep Care Provider Directory.