About 60 million Americans can’t sleep at night. Most of these people have a sleep disorder called insomnia, which is characterized by either having a difficult time falling asleep, or waking up too soon and not falling back to sleep. Some people who wrestle with insomnia have trouble with both falling asleep and staying asleep.

There are two different types of this condition:

• Primary – a person’s sleep issues have nothing to do with medical, environmental, or psychiatric factors
• Secondary – a persona’ sleep issues are a side-effect to another issue, such as a medical condition or the use of certain medications or substances that affects sleep

For those who have primary insomnia, their sleep issues last for at least one month. When those with secondary insomnia fix their underlying issue, their sleep problems usually go away. Insomnia varies from person to person. Some people have acute insomnia with sleep issues lasting only for a short time while others struggle with insomnia for years.

The Negative Effects of Insomnia

Insomnia can wreak havoc on a person’s daily routine. Besides feeling drowsy throughout the day, insomnia can result in feeling irritable, anxious, and depressed. Along with negatively affecting one’s emotions and mood, not getting adequate amounts of sleep can be dangerous. For example, missing just a few hours of sleep can double one’s chances of causing a car crash.

Insomnia can also make it hard to pay attention, cause forgetfulness, and increase one’s chances of gaining weight.

Finding the Cure for Insomnia

The cure for most cases of insomnia largely depends upon the cause. For example, if it’s caused by drinking too much caffeine, insomniacs may want to stop drinking coffee or caffeinated beverages earlier in the day. Others simply might not be getting a good night sleep because it’s hard for them to get comfortable in bed. This could be due in part to having the wrong mattress.

In a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 92% of the people said having a good mattress was essential for getting a good night’s sleep. Besides not sleeping well, if a mattress is over 8 years old, it makes squeaking noises, or it has a visible sag, it’s time to get a new one.

While getting a brand new mattress might not be the cure for everyone’s insomnia, it is certainly a good place to start.