Insomnia: Definition and Cause

According to recent medical studies, the percentage of Americans suffering from insomnia ranges from 32 to 35 percent; the percentage in Japan is 20 percent; in West Germany it is 15 percent; and the percentage of people in England suffering from insomnia is 14 percent. According to clinical research statistics compiled in mainland China, approximately ten percent of China's population suffer from insomnia. As can be observed through these percentages, the number of people suffering from insomnia around the world is quite high. In general, eliminating insomnia would benefit not only the individuals who suffer from it but also society as a whole. A treatment without the side-effects of drugs would reduce economic stress on the general population. Insomnia is most often caused by neurasthenia - a weakening in the nervous system.

Common symptoms associated with insomnia are as follows: the sufferer will have increased dreaming episodes, a decrease in vigor, periods of dizziness and headaches, the inability to focus mentally, a loss in memory, a decrease in work production, and heightened irritability. Because of sleep loss, worry about losing sleep each night produces anxiety and increases the excitation of the cerebral cortex thus creating a vicious cycle of worry and sleep deprivation. Consequences can be a loss in appetite, poor digestion in the stomach and intestines, heart palpitations, and coldness in the hands and feet. Many of those who suffer from insomnia will have a weak physical body, soft bones, fatigued muscles, and tenseness in the forehead muscles. Severe cases of insomnia will lead to a loss in weight, weakening of the body, and overall suffering.

In general, even though the physiological trauma to the insomnia sufferer will be minor over a set time period long-term research evidence from physiologists suggests that sufficient sleep is required for the following physiological functions to occur properly: recovery from illness, repair of damaged cells, and boosting of the immune system to ward off disease. Secretion of the various growth hormones of the pituitary gland increase with sufficient amounts of sleep. This will aid in the blending of proteins and RNA to improve the rejuvenation of cells. In addition, sufficient amounts of sleep will improve levels of energy and relieve tension brought about due to stress in life. Sleep and wakefulness are necessary and fundamental activities for all higher level organisms in the animal kingdom. These two activities will help maintain all normal physiological processes within the body. Only by obtaining sufficient amounts of sleep can we properly function in the waking state. Consequently, sleep is a very important factor for maintaining a healthy body and for preventing the onset of disease.

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Insomnia: Definition and Cause