Insomnia is the failure to fall asleep and remain asleep. Sleep is light and easily disturbed. Other common symptoms include fatigue, irritability, and poor attention.
Insomnia can increase the chance of accidents, decrease performance, and impair judgment.
Severity of Insomnia
There are varying degrees of severity for insomnia.
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Mild Insomnia: Poor sleep has little effect on social function or work.
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Moderate Insomnia: Poor sleep impacts social and work function.
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Severe Insomnia: Poor sleep has a major impact on how a person functions during the day.
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Acute Insomnia: Poor sleep lasts only a few days.
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Chronic Insomnia: Poor sleep may last for several months or more. It may start in early childhood and be life-long.
This information has been approved by Teofilo Lee-Chiong, Jr, MD (September 2009).
