Sleep disorders affect the quality, amount, and timing of sleep. These conditions affect the ability to get the rest that the body needs and maintain wakefulness. There are usually over 80 sleep disorders that impact people. Insomnia and somnolence are two different sleep disorders.
The key difference between insomnia and somnolence is their symptoms. Insomnia is characterized by having trouble falling or staying asleep while somnolence is characterized by a state of drowsiness or a strong desire to fall asleep.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Insomnia
3. What is Somnolence
4. Similarities – Insomnia and Somnolence
5. Insomnia vs Somnolence in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Insomnia vs Somnolence
7. FAQ – Insomnia and Somnolence
What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which people have trouble falling or staying asleep. Insomnia can be acute or chronic. There are also two types of insomnia as primary and secondary. Primary insomnia is not directly linked to a health condition, while secondary insomnia is directly linked to other health conditions like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, heartburn, etc. Insomnia can be caused by stress, things like noise, light or temperature, changes to sleep schedule like jet lag, genes, mental health conditions, medications for colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, asthma, pain or discomfort at night, caffeine, tobacco, hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, and PMS or menopause. Moreover, the symptoms of insomnia may include sleepiness during the day, fatigue, grumpiness, and problems with concentration or memory.
Insomnia can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, sleep diary, and special tests at sleep centers. Furthermore, treatment options for insomnia include sleep pills for short periods of time, managing other conditions that keep people awake, and behavioural therapy.
What is Somnolence?
Somnolence is defined as a state of drowsiness or a strong desire to fall asleep. This condition can be caused by different medical conditions such as electrolyte disorders, head injury, hypothermia, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc., sleep-wake disorders (insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, etc.), medications (antihistamines, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, opioids, antipsychotics, etc.), and alcohol intoxication and lifestyle factors (overwork, irregular work schedule, jet lag, and stress). Moreover, the signs and symptoms of somnolence may include a state of drowsiness or a strong desire to fall asleep, being cognitively impaired, having difficulty paying attention, worsening with inactivity commonly followed by sleep, and fatigue increasing with activity and alleviated by rest.
Somnolence can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, imaging tests (CT scan, EEG, and ECG), and blood and urine tests. Furthermore, treatment options for somnolence include controlling the underlying conditions, modifications of offending medications, rest, meditation, mindfulness exercises, counselling, and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Similarities Between Insomnia and Somnolence
- Insomnia and somnolence are two different sleep disorders.
- Somnolence can be caused by sleep-wake disorders like
- Both these can be diagnosed through medical history and physical examination.
- They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.
Difference Between Insomnia and Somnolence
Definition
- Insomnia is a condition where people struggle to fall asleep or stay asleep.
- Somnolence is a state of drowsiness or a strong urge to sleep.
Causes
- Insomnia can be caused by stress, noise, light, temperature changes, alterations in sleep schedules (such as jet lag), genetics, mental health issues, certain medications, and health conditions like hyperthyroidism or pregnancy.
- Somnolence can be caused by various medical conditions (such as electrolyte imbalances or head injury), sleep disorders (like sleep apnea or narcolepsy), medications, alcohol, and lifestyle factors such as overwork, irregular schedules, or stress.
Signs and Symptoms
- The signs of insomnia include daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, and difficulties with focus or memory.
- The signs of somnolence include drowsiness or a strong urge to sleep, cognitive impairment, difficulty focusing, increased fatigue with activity, and improvement with rest.
Diagnosis
- Diagnosing insomnia involves evaluating medical history, conducting a physical examination, keeping a sleep diary, and possibly undergoing sleep studies at specialized centers.
- Diagnosing somnolence involves a review of medical history, physical examination, imaging tests (such as CT scans, EEGs, and ECGs), and blood and urine tests.
Treatment
- Insomnia can be treated with short-term sleep medications, managing underlying conditions that disrupt sleep, and behavioral therapy.
- Somnolence can be treated by addressing the underlying causes, adjusting medications, resting, practicing meditation and mindfulness, seeking counseling, and undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
The following table summarizes the difference between insomnia and somnolence.
Summary – Insomnia vs Somnolence
Sleep disorders affect the quality of life. These disorders can disrupt thinking, school or work performance, mental health, or physical health. Insomnia and somnolence are two different sleep disorders. Insomnia and somnolence are two associated conditions. This is because somnolence can be caused by sleep-wake disorders like insomnia. However, insomnia is due to trouble falling or staying asleep, while somnolence is due to a state of drowsiness or a strong desire to fall asleep. This is the summary of the difference between insomnia and somnolence.
FAQ: Insomnia and Somnolence
1. Is somnolence an insomnia?
- Insomnia is due to trouble falling or staying asleep, while somnolence is due to a state of drowsiness or a strong desire to fall asleep. However, somnolence can be caused by sleep-wake disorders, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
2. What is the main cause of insomnia?
- Insomnia can be caused by stress, things around the people like noise, light or temperature, changes to sleep schedule like jet lag, genes, mental health conditions, medications for colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, asthma, pain or discomfort at night, caffeine, tobacco, hyperthyroidism, pregnancy, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, PMS or menopause.
3. How does one stop insomnia?
- To help stop insomnia, various lifestyle and treatment strategies can be effective. Make the bedroom sleep-friendly, go to sleep and wake up around the same time each day, avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime, get regular physical activity during the daytime, avoid naps, especially in the afternoon, sleep pills for a short period of time, managing other conditions that keep people awake and behavioural therapy.
4. What causes oversleeping and somnolence?
- Hypersomnia means excessive sleepiness. There are many different causes. The most common are inadequate sleep, sleep disorders, medication, and medical and psychiatric illnesses. On the other hand, somnolence can be caused by different medical conditions such as electrolyte disorders, head injury, hypothermia, chronic fatigue syndrome, etc., sleep-wake disorders (insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, etc.), medications (antihistamines, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, opioids, antipsychotics, etc.), alcohol intoxication and lifestyle factors (overwork, irregular work schedule, jet lag, and stress).
5. What are the signs and symptoms of somnolence?
- The signs and symptoms of somnolence may include excessive drowsiness, sleeping up to 20 hours a day, headaches, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and irritability.
Reference:
1. “Somnolence: What Is It, Causes, Treatment, and More.” Osmosis.
2. “Insomnia: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Woman in White Long Sleeve Shirt Sitting on a Bed” (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Woman Wearing Collared Top in Chair” (CC0) via Pexels
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