Insomnia is an all too common foe When it comes to sleep,most people would say they simply don't get enough.For some,work and family responsibilities are simply too demanding and time-consuming for them to get their eight hours of rest each night. For others, the problem could be more complicated. Unbeknownst to many, prolonged insomnia can have very negative impacts on a person's health, decreasing the body's ability to fight potentially harmful diseases. Insomnia is something nearly everyone has experienced at one time or another. While the stress that stems from work and family can cause insomnia, those are not the lone reasons nearly one in three adults encounters sleep problems each year. What is insomnia? While most people are aware that insomnia is an inability to sleep, few realize that sleep is actually part of a larger process known as the circadian rhythm. Humans, like the planet,operate on a daily cycle that repeats itself every 24 hours.During those 24 hours, it's common for adults to sleep between six and eight hours.While a night or two here and there of poor or interrupted sleep won't be very harmful,when those poor or even sleepless nights occur over an extended period of time, this is known as insomnia. Are there different types of insomnia? Not all forms of insomnia are the same, hence the reason it is one of the most commonly reported health problems. Those who are experiencing insomnia could have any of the following types, which are distinguished from one another both by their severity and duration. • Short-term insomnia:This is typically caused by a stressful life event, one that preoccupies the mind so much that even falling asleep becomes difficult. In general, short-term insomnia will last less than a month, and often disappears around the time the source of heightened stress disappears. • Transient insomnia: Whenever a normal sleeping pattern is disturbed and a person cannot sleep, that person is said to have transient insomnia. The disturbance in sleep is often the result of travel or relocating,and does not last longer than a few nights. Nearly everyone, when relocating, experiences at least mild transient insomnia, as it often takes a night or two to adapt to a new sleeping situation. • Chronic insomnia: Chronic insomnia is the most serious form,with the potential for very negative consequences. Sleep helps a body develop cells that are important for a person's immune system.While a temporary loss of sleep won't have a significant impact on the production of these cells,an extended loss of sleep, such as that experienced by those with chronic insomnia, can.This leaves people more susceptible to disease,as the decreased production of cells leaves their bodies less resistant. What causes insomnia? Insomnia can result from a number of things.As previously mentioned, stress can result in a loss of sleep. If the stress is temporary, short-term insomnia can result. However,a lifestyle that is highly stressful can contribute to chronic insomnia. When many people initially experience insomnia, they begin to examine certain behaviors.Among those are their consumption of caffeine and their own sleeping habits.An overconsumption of caffeine, particularly in the hours leading up to when a person goes to bed,can result in insomnia. In addition, poor sleeping habits, such as napping during the day, can make a person less tired when it comes time to go to bed,making it more difficult to fall asleep. Caffeine consumption and abnormal sleeping patterns are not the only lifestyle choices that can negatively impact a person's ability to fall asleep.People who live sedentary lifestyles often experience some form of insomnia. In addition,overconsumption of alcohol can impact a person's ability to fall asleep.When a person consumes too much alcohol, falling asleep without that alcohol in their system can be difficult.This can be a dangerous and slippery slope,as a person could conclude they need alcohol,or even prescription medications, to fall asleep. Another factor that could affect a person's ability to fall asleep is a work schedule. Irregular schedules will almost always lead to some form of insomnia. If a person isn't careful, a constantly changing work schedule,where a shift might regularly switch back and forth between nights and days,could very well lead to chronic insomnia.Such a schedule is almost impossible to adapt to,and the negative effects will surface via a lack of sleep.