Insomnia and sleep disorders

Do you often lie awake at night tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep? Do you have a million thoughts running through your mind? Do you have trouble turning off your brain to relax? You inevitably stay awake, restless, irritated and unable to sleep. Insomnia strikes most people at one time or another, usually due to excess stress.

Are you suffering from the following symptoms?

- Difficulty falling asleep

- Awakenings during the night

- Feeling of not being rested in the morning

- Difficulty concentrating

- Sleepiness during the day

If you suffer from some or all of these insomnia symptoms, you are not alone. In fact, 35% of Canadians have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Considering how important sleep is to overall health, this is an alarming statistic.

When you don't get enough sleep, your health suffers. Research indicates that lack of sleep can lead to a host of health problems, including increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, weight gain and obesity. Also, sleep helps your brain function by helping you concentrate, make decisions, and perform other functions on a daily basis. The Sleep Foundation recommends 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. And if you don't get that minimum amount of sleep, your brain and body suffer and your immune system loses its ability to fight illness, so you're more likely to get sick.