What are the Causes and Effects of Insomnia?
Sleep problems can be the cause, effect, or complication of illnesses, mental disorders, and accidents. Just like temperature, pulse, and respiration, sleep should be considered a vital sign of health. The quality of one’s cycle of sleep and wakefulness can be a sign of health or illness. Primary insomnia is sleeplessness that cannot be blamed on mental disorders, physical illness, medications or simple problems with scheduling. Excessive daytime drowsiness (called primary hypersomnia) is associated with nighttime periodic leg movements, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep), and snoring. Periodic leg movement disorder and restless legs syndrome are also associated with complaints of insomnia and non-restorative sleep. In either case, to qualify as a sleep disorder, symptoms must interfere with social or intellectual function and occur three nights per week for a month. Obsessive worry about sleep and the use of alcohol or sedatives may be both a cause
