Insomnia is defined by difficulty falling or staying asleep as reported by individuals. It can be transient (less than a week), acute (less than a month), or chronic (longer than a month). Chronic insomnia can cause fatigue, hallucinations, and issues with vision. Insomnia is more common in females and the elderly. It is evaluated through medical history and sleep diaries or partner interviews. While insomnia has always existed, the term originated in the early 17th century to describe the inability to sleep. Lack of sleep can impair thinking, concentration, and memory. People operating machinery should address insomnia to avoid safety issues.

2. Insomnia is most frequently defined by an individual's report
of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in
sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by
polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is
often defined as a positive response to either of two
questions: "Do you experience difficulty sleeping?" or "Do
you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?"

3. The are different types of Insomnia. It can be classified as transient,
acute, or chronic.
1. Transient insomnia only lasts for less than a week. It can be
caused by many things: another disorder, by changes in the sleep
environment, by the timing of sleep, severe depression, or stress. Its
consequences, which include sleepiness and impaired psychomotor
performance, are similar to those of sleep deprivation.
2. Acute insomnia is not being able to sleep well constantly for less
than a month.
3. Chronic insomnia lasts for longer than a month. It can be a
primary disorder, or caused by another disorder. Its effects can vary
depending on its causes. People with chronic insomnia may suffer
from muscular fatigue, hallucinations, and mental fatigue, but they
often show increased alertness. Some people that live with this see
things as if it was happening in slow motion, where moving objects
seem to blend together. It can cause double vision.

4. Insomnia can be found in males and females of
all age groups, but its more common in
females and in the elderly. The ability to sleep,
rather than the need for sleep, appears to
decrease with ageing.
People with insomnia are evaluated with the help of a medical
history and a sleep history. This sleep history may be obtained
from a sleep diary the person fills out, or by an interview with the
their bed partner concerning the quantity and quality of the
patient’s sleep. Specialized sleep studies may be recommended,
but only if there is suspicion that the patient may have a primary
sleep disorder such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.

5. Insomnia has always existed. There hasn’t always been a name for
it, or official diagnosis's, but people have always had trouble
sleeping.
The word ‘insomnia’ began back in 1623, in the third known
English Language dictionary, written by Henry Cockeram, and the
first that actually contains the word ‘dictionary’ in the title. He
gave the following meaning to the word insomnia: “Insomnie.
Watching, want of power to sleepe”. The start of the 20th century
attributed this with the meaning it has today.

6. Lack of sleep can affect ones ability to think
clearly. Its been found that sleep deprived
people take much longer to solve simple
problems than people who sleep well. They
also have more difficulty concentrating or
responding.
People who drive or operate heavy machinery
should seek insomnia remedies if they have
difficulty sleeping or staying asleep at night.
Insomnia affects mental functioning and
memory, it is associated with obesity, and it
affects your appearance

7. http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2010/02/17/2822399.htm
http://sleepcottage.com/the-history-of-insomnia/
http://www.insomnia-symptom.com/insomnia-effects
http://www.insomnia-symptom.com/insomnia-effects
http://www.sleepaus.on.net/insomniainformation.html