Top Treatment for Insomnia
It’s common for people to have trouble falling asleep every now & then, but it shouldn’t be a frequent occurrence. When you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, it is known as insomnia. This sleep disorder can end up affecting your quality of life and putting your health at risk.
What Are Common Symptoms of Insomnia?
Insomnia can cause you to have trouble getting to sleep at night. You might also have difficulty staying asleep through the night. In some cases, insomnia causes people to get up too early in the morning. Insomnia can also cause a wide range of other symptoms that occur due to poor sleep quality or a lack of sleep.
Including:
- Feeling overly tired or sleepy during the day
- Feeling anxious or irritable
- Having trouble concentrating and remembering
- Making more errors than usual at school, at work or in other situations
- Feeling depressed
When insomnia is left untreated, you can have a higher risk of developing more serious health issues, such as heart disease or high blood pressure. Long-term insomnia can also increase your risk of being in a car accident due to poor judgement or a slower reaction time. Making errors at school or on the job could also affect your education or ability to work. Insomnia also raises your risk of developing mental health problems, such as depression.
What are Causes of Insomnia?
You can get insomnia from different causes. Following:
Chronic Stress
Dealing with stress on a regular basis can cause you to have insomnia. Stressful events, such as losing your job or a loved one, can also result in insomnia.
Bad Sleep Habits
Taking naps later in the day, going to bed at different times, or staring at a screen before bed can affect your sleep cycle.
Circadian Rhythm Problems
Working a late-night shift or traveling frequently to different time zones can throw off your circadian rhythm, making it harder to sleep.
Food & Caffeine
Eating a heavy meal in the evening or shortly before going to bed can cause you to have trouble sleeping. Drinking coffee or other beverages with caffeine in the late afternoon or evening can also cause to stay awake at bedtime.
Medical Problems
Chronic pain, heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions can cause you to have difficulty sleeping.
Medications
Blood pressure medications, antidepressants and some other medications can cause sleep problems.
What are Treatment Options for Insomnia?
Medication and therapy are the top choices when it comes to treating this sleep disorder. Prescription medications and sleep aids can provide short-term relief from insomnia. However, these are not meant to be used on a long-term basis. In some cases, a combination of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy is used for treating insomnia.
Cognitive behavioral therapy involves learning to recognize thought patterns that interfere with your ability to sleep, such as negative thoughts. This type of therapy also helps you develop better habits for sleep, such as practicing relaxation techniques. Other approaches to treating insomnia that are part of cognitive behavioral therapy include light therapy, stimulus control therapy and sleep restriction. These approaches gradually help you build healthy sleep habits for a good night’s rest.
If you’re looking for treatment for insomnia, please contact Sleep & Neuroscience Associates for an appointment.
