Insomnia is defined as persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, accompanied by daytime symptoms such as fatigue, memory problems, drowsiness and irritability. All this, when there are suitable opportunities and circumstances to sleep.
In cases where symptoms of insomnia occur three or more times a week, for three or more than three months or over several years, the diagnosis is chronic insomnia, a condition with an estimated prevalence of 10% in the world’s population. Shorter episodes affect one in three people.
Insomnia can be initial, when what exists is the difficulty of falling asleep.
Or maintenance, in cases
where the problem is staying asleep.
Both can coexist in the same patient — sometimes even simultaneously.
The onset of symptoms is often linked to traumatic episodes in life or phases of greater stress, but it can also happen spontaneously. In these cases, it may be related to other sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
Insomnia, particularly in chronic cases, must be diagnosed and treated in order to reduce its long-term impact. In addition to immediate daytime symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness, irritability and attention deficit, which make work difficult and reduce quality of life, chronic insomnia can increase the risk of psychiatric or cardiovascular diseases, as well as lead to road or work accidents. .