Sleep problems, medically referred to as insomnia, are the most common sleep issue among the adult population, especially among the elderly.
Sleep is not about the brain “temporarily ceasing function” as most people believe, but rather it works in a different mode relying on certain groups of nerve cells to take over, creating a feeling of drowsiness, the desire to sleep, and regulating the depth of sleep, including dream occurrences. Thus, the sleep mechanism is directly controlled by the brain.
Therefore, any disease or condition that affects the brain will also impact sleep. The term “insomnia” can be both a “symptom” and a “disease”.
If insomnia occurs spontaneously without any provoking factors, it is called Primary insomnia. Or, it might happen in normal individuals who happen to have a trigger for insomnia, such as anxiety about a job interview at a new workplace, stress due to financial debt, etc.
Additionally, this condition can occur in patients with major depressive disorder or might be a complication in patients with chronic diseases, such as insomnia in cancer patients.
It’s evident that insomnia is quite common as it can occur both in healthy individuals and in patients. Fortunately, most cases of insomnia are temporary (Transient Insomnia).
It usually has a clear and reasonable cause, and removing such triggers can allow for normal sleep. Therefore, most people do not need to see a doctor.
However, if insomnia occurs frequently or persists for a long time, especially in individuals with other chronic conditions, it becomes necessary to seek medical treatment from a specialist.
