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Insomnia Definition & Overview

Definition

Insomnia is a poor quality sleep. This may mean a lack of sleep or difficulty staying asleep. Some have trouble falling asleep, or problems waking in the middle of the night or very early in the morning. It may be characterized as:

  • Transient—lasts from a single night to a few weeks
  • Intermittent or short term—episodes of transient insomnia occur from time to time
  • Chronic—if it occurs on most nights and lasts a month or more; this form usually needs treatment

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2024 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.

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