Effective Health Care Program

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. If you have it, you may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. As a result, you may get too little sleep or have poor-quality sleep. You may not feel refreshed when you wake up.

Symptoms of insomnia include:

• Lying awake for a long time before you fall asleep
• Sleeping for only short periods
• Being awake for much of the night
• Feeling as if you haven't slept at all
• Waking up too early

Your doctor will diagnose insomnia based on your medical and sleep histories and a physical exam. He or she also may recommend a sleep study. A sleep study measures how well you sleep and how your body responds to sleep problems. Treatments include good sleep habits, counseling, and medicines.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute