Insomnia - Primary

Definition: A condition causing poor-quality or too little sleep. Insomnia may cause someone to:

• have trouble trying to fall asleep
• cause someone to wake frequently during the night
• result in difficulty falling back to sleep
• waking up too early most mornings
• or, feeling fatigued and tired on waking.

Insomnia can result in difficulty concentrating during the day. Patients with insomnia often report feeling tired, having little energy, or feeling irritable. When left untreated, insomnia may result in chronic health conditions, or worsen preexisting health conditions. Many subtypes of insomnia exist, including chronic insomnia, stress insomnia and behavioral insomnia.

Pronunciation: in-som-knee-uh

Also Known As: common insomnia, transient insomnia, occasional insomnia, jet lag

Alternate Spellings: sleeplessness