Sleep disorders affect so many people.  Do you have problems falling asleep every night?  Are you unable to fall back to sleep after waking at 3 am? It could be insomnia.

Insomnia is really just a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia on a regular basis each year.

Insomnia is 1.4 times more common in women than in men. Estrogen levels at various life stages, and during different phases of the menstrual cycles are reasons for this difference. Additionally, anxiety and stress levels from work, marriage, and child rearing are surely a major reason for insomnia in women.

There are several different types of insomnia, but three have been clearly identified: transient, acute, and chronic.

1. Transient insomnia is very short term, usually days or a couple of weeks.  
2. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of three weeks to six months.
3. Chronic insomnia lasts for years.