Doctor explains the key difference between having insomnia and struggling to sleep

A doctor has explained how to know if you're just having a bad night's sleep or if you need to seek medical advice.

Sleep is a vital thing, people can generally only go for so long without it before dying, and getting enough sleep each night is critical for all sorts of aspects of health.

As such, insomnia is a terrible thing to live with and people struggling with their sleep might be worried wondering whether or not they've ended up developing it if they're having a horrid time getting some much-needed shut eye.

Dr Clare Rooms, a GP and the Clinical Lead for Insomnia at Boots Online Doctor, laid out how you can tell the difference between 'the odd bad night's sleep' and the sleep disorder insomnia.

She said: "Most people will experience the odd bad night’s sleep - often triggered by everyday stress, changes to routine, or late nights over the festive period - but that in itself doesn’t mean you have insomnia.

Many people will have a bad night's sleep from time to time, but insomnia is a whole other problem (Getty Images)

"The key difference comes down to how long the sleep disturbances last and the impact they have on daily life.

"Short-term sleep struggles usually improve once the trigger passes, but insomnia is a recognised sleep disorder. It involves problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early at least three nights a week for three months or more, and it also affects daytime functioning.

"People with insomnia may feel exhausted during daytime, may struggle to concentrate, become irritable, or notice their performance at work or relationships being impacted."

If you're having disrupted sleep then she recommends trying to have a 'consistent wake-up time' as well as cutting down on your alcohol consumption and 'avoiding heavy meals before bedtime' if you can manage it.

The doctor's other health tips for getting a better night's sleep included keeping your bedroom dark and cool at night, while taking in some fresh air and engaging in physical activity during the day.

If the disturbance to your sleep is lasting a long time you may have insomnia (Getty Images)

She urged people who have 'ongoing' sleep disturbances to look for the other signs that you might have insomnia rather than a short-term issue.

These include sleep disruption carrying on far beyond a two-week period and the tiredness from a lack of sleep 'having a noticeable impact on your daily life'.

Making lifestyle improvements and adopting 'sleep hygiene measures' without success were other warning signs, as was 'anxiety building around bedtime' over the worry of 'another sleepless night'.

The doctor said that people suffering from 'persistent sleep disturbances' should speak to their GP, and could access expert advice on the new Boots Online Doctor Insomnia Treatment service.