Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person cannot fall asleep or stay asleep for extended periods of time. There are two types of insomnia: primary insomnia and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is its own disorder while secondary insomnia is a symptom of another health condition, like asthma, depression, heartburn or an effect of medication or substance use.
Primary Insomnia also has two types, acute and chronic; with acute lasting one night to a few weeks and chronic lasting a couple weeks to few months. Symptoms of Insomnia include difficulty falling and staying asleep, fatigue, irritability, depression and anxiety, lack of concentration, headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Diagnosing insomnia may include a physical exam, keeping a sleep diary, tracking your sleep patterns, and referral to a sleep lab for specialized sleep testing.
