Total Care Saudi

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a very common sleep disorder. It is characterized by poor sleep or difficulty in sleeping. It can involve:

Most people need around seven to eight hours of sleep every day. Your sleeping patterns may change as you grow older.

Insomnia can be the result of a number of things such as:

Anyone can be affected by insomnia.
It is usually more common among females than males.
It is more common among individuals 65 years and older.
It can also affect individuals who have medical conditions and are on multiple medications.

These difficulties happen even if you had adequate opportunities for sleep and they persist for more than three months.

Depending on your situation, the diagnosis of insomnia and the search for its cause may include:

Physical exam: If the cause of insomnia is unknown, your doctor may do a physical exam to look for signs of medical problems that may be related to insomnia. Occasionally, a blood test may be done to check for thyroid problems or other conditions that may be associated with poor sleep.
Sleep habits review: In addition to asking you sleep-related questions, your doctor may have you complete a questionnaire to determine your sleep-wake pattern and your level of daytime sleepiness. You may also be asked to keep a sleep diary for a couple of weeks.
Sleep study: If the cause of your insomnia isn't clear, or you have signs of another sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, you may need to spend a night at a sleep center. Tests are done to monitor and record a variety of body activities while you sleep, including brain waves, breathing, heartbeat, eye movements and body movements.

Insomnia becomes a problem when:

Keep in mind that if insomnia is not properly treated, it can affect your quality of life and cause serious problems such as:

Yes.

1. Improve your sleeping habits.

Go to bed, and wake up at the same time every day.
Develop a bedtime ritual (e.g. reading before going to bed).
Do not eat, watch TV, or read while in bed.
Sleep in a quiet and dark room.
Do not drink caffeine, or smoke a few hours before bedtime.
Do not exercise a few hours before bedtime.
Do not eat a heavy meal before bedtime.
Do not take naps for more than 20-30 minutes per day (if you have to nap, do so around noon time/early afternoon).

Reduce your stress. Techniques for stress reduction include:

Take sleeping pills only if prescribed by your doctor.

Do not take sleeping pills on your own as they might make your sleeping problem worse.
Your doctor may prescribe sleeping pills for only a limited number of nights due to their addictive potential.

No. According to CCHI unified Policy terms and conditions, health insurance policies in Saudi Arabia doesn’t cover the treatment of insomnia.

Please Click Here to access the Unified CCHI Policy Wordings.