Insomnia

Insomnia can cause problems during the day, such as excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Although the amount of sleep a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours of sleep a night.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a condition in which it is difficult to get to sleep, or to remain soundly asleep, resulting in too short and too low-quality sleep which affects normal functioning. It causes fatigue and daytime sleepiness. It may be classified as acute, lasting a few days or weeks, or chronic, when it lasts longer than a month.

Insomnia Causes

Insomnia Symptoms

Insomnia Treatment

Insomnia in Pregnancy

Promoting Sounder Sleep in Older Adults

Insomnia in Children

Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Causes of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Treatment of Sleep-Onset Insomnia

Middle of the Night Insomnia

Middle of the Night Insomnia and Biphasic Sleeping

See more featured articles »

Treatment of Middle-of-the-Night Insomnia

Screen Time and Insomnia

Latest Insomnia News and Research

How common is chronic fatigue syndrome among patients with long COVID-19?

In a new study, researchers found that myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) was common in long COVID-19.

10 Aug 2022

Fatigue and headache among the most common symptoms following COVID-19 infections

Fatigue and headache were the most common symptoms reported by individuals an average of more than four months out from having COVID-19, investigators report.

8 Aug 2022

Experts analyze the nature, prevalence, and severity of long-term symptoms related to COVID-19

One in eight adults (12.7%) who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 experience long term symptoms due to COVID-19, suggests a large Dutch study published in The Lancet.

5 Aug 2022

The Future of CBD research, marketing, and regulation

In this interview, Professor Ted Dinan, Medical Director at Atlantia Clinical Trials, and Asa Waldstein, Principal at Supplement Advisory Group, discuss Atlantia’s expertise in clinical trials for CBD.

From Atlantia Clinical Trials 1 Aug 2022

World Hepatitis Day 2022: Why Accelerating the Fight Against Hepatitis Cannot Wait

In our latest interview, News-Medical speaks to Simon Parker, an infectious disease specialist, about hepatitis C diagnostics and testing, as well as why the global fight against hepatitis cannot wait.

28 Jul 2022

UK study finds over 100 symptoms of long COVID in non-hospitalized adults

In a new study, researchers determined symptoms and risk factors present beyond 12 weeks in non-hospitalized adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

27 Jul 2022

Study shows the efficacy of Yoga of Immortals mobile app for urinary incontinence

People with loss of urinary control who used the Yoga of Immortals mobile app – a globally used app that combines specific yogic postures in the Sanatan tradition with breathing exercises, sound therapy and meditation – found significant improvement in the frequency and severity of urine leaks at four weeks of practice, according to a Rutgers study.

26 Jul 2022

Poll: Many older adults use integrative medicine strategy to ease physical or mental health symptoms

Nearly 40% of older adults currently use at least one integrative medicine strategy to try to ease symptoms of a physical or mental health issue, or to help them relax, a new poll finds.

26 Jul 2022

New Oxford study examines the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments for insomnia

Two drugs, eszopiclone and lemborexant - both not currently licenced for the treatment of insomnia in the UK - were shown to perform better than others, both in the acute and long-term treatment of insomnia in adults, according to a new Oxford study exploring the pharmacological management of insomnia.

19 Jul 2022

What causes insomnia and how to treat it?

A new study evaluates the symptoms of insomnia and its treatment as reported by patients in primary care settings.

5 Jul 2022

Researchers evaluate the brain circuits involved in social defeat stress-induced sleep in mice

The stress surrounding being defeated by another mouse activates mouse midbrain cells, promoting sleep and reducing anxiety, according to a new study.

30 Jun 2022

Assessing neurological symptoms present in long COVID patients

Researchers assessed the symptoms of neurological post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (neuro-PASC) among patients with and without neurologic disorders.

17 Jun 2022

Study tracks neurological symptoms in COVID-19 "long-haulers"

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine are conducting a longitudinal study to track neurological symptoms in COVID-19 "long-haulers."

16 Jun 2022

Busy Americans get the least sleep at age 40, study reports

A graph of how long Americans sleep forms a U-shaped pattern across our lives, with age 40 being the low point and hours of sleep starting to creep back up about age 50, Medical College of Georgia investigators report.

14 Jun 2022

Transgender college students more likely to suffer from sleep disorders and mental health issues

Transgender individuals are more likely to experience discrimination, isolation, and lack of social support.

10 Jun 2022

Electronic symptom monitoring improved quality-of-life outcomes among patients with metastatic cancer

People with advanced cancer who communicated their symptoms weekly using an electronic survey had about a one-third better physical function and over a 15% better control of their symptoms compared to those who were evaluated less frequently via in-person clinical visits, according to findings from a multi-state study conducted at 52 community cancer clinics.

6 Jun 2022

Growing up in unsafe neighborhoods may lead to poorer sleep in adulthood

A recent study of Black women found that growing up in an unsafe neighborhood was associated with poorer sleep in adulthood.

3 Jun 2022

Use of RAAS inhibitors reduced aneurysm rupture risk by 18%, finds study

A multi-center study of more than 3,000 people with high blood pressure and brain aneurysms found that the use of RAAS inhibitors, a class of blood pressure lowering medications, reduced the risk of an aneurysm rupture by 18%, according to new research published today in Hypertension, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

3 Jun 2022

Study identifies how ketamine works as a rapid antidepressant

Ketamine is the speedster of antidepressants, working within hours compared to more common antidepressants that can take several weeks. But ketamine can only be given for a limited amount of time because of its many side effects.

1 Jun 2022

Autistic adults have worse health and poorer quality healthcare

Autistic individuals are more likely to have chronic mental and physical health conditions, suggests new research from the University of Cambridge. Autistic individuals also report lower quality healthcare than others.

27 May 2022