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New Hope for Insomnia Sufferers.

New Research for Insomnia

By Tracy PhillipsPublished 4 years ago 35 min read
1
New Hope for Insomnia Sufferers.
Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

For individuals who are experiencing a sleeping disorder, there isn't anything so significant as finding a decent sleep deprivation treatment. All things considered, the diligent failure to rest, the steady weakness, and the dissatisfaction of neglecting to get any rest after a long time after night incurs significant damage. Luckily, there are a lot of alternatives accessible for individuals who experience the ill effects of a sleeping disorder, and a successful sleep deprivation treatment can be found by the individuals who need one.

The primary activity when searching for a sleeping disorder treatment is to take a gander at sleep deprivation avoidance. Taking out caffeine at night hours, practicing in the early night, maintaining a strategic distance from TV and the web close to sleep time, and getting to bed early are largely great approaches to forestall sleep deprivation before it begins. Furthermore, counteraction is the most ideal approach to begin treatment.

Presumably the most popular a sleeping disorder treatment is the exemplary glass of warm milk. For as far back as anybody can recollect, when someone experiences difficulty nodding off, somebody has suggested a decent glass of warm milk. The explanations behind its viability are as yet not totally seen, however warm milk assists individuals with nodding off. In spite of the fact that it won't really help somebody who is experiencing a very tough sleeping disorder, it will help individuals who simply need a touch of something that will assist them with loosening up enough to get the opportunity to rest.

At the point when the sleep deprivation is somewhat more obstinate, more grounded techniques might be essential. There are a few natural a sleeping disorder medicines accessible and they can be extremely viable, when somebody is experiencing difficulty nodding off. The most well-known natural medicines incorporate natural herbs, for example, lavender, chamomile, or valerian and they can be extremely compelling when rest won't come in any case.

Another alternative for individuals who need assistance nodding off is melatonin, a normally happening hormone. This hormone is indispensable in directing human rest cycles and, when taken in pill structure, it can assist individuals with getting their sleeping disorder leveled out and nod off when they have to nod off. Furthermore, on the grounds that it is a normally happening hormone in well evolved creatures, it isn't as risky as a portion of the more grounded sleep deprivation medicines.

Tragically, a few people don't react to any of these strategies and need a more grounded sleep deprivation treatment. Which implies, obviously, resting pills. Honestly, sleeping pills are exceptionally compelling. Notwithstanding, they additionally convey a danger of reliance and even dependence and should, consequently, be utilized sparingly. However, for individuals who are experiencing extraordinary, and tough sleeping disorder, there is now and again no other decision and sleeping pills are expected to at last get a decent evenings rest. While it's anything but a technique that ought to be trifled with, a genuine sleeping disorder at times require genuine measures and dozing pills are an amazingly powerful sleep deprivation treatment.

Sleep deprivation treatment is imperative for individuals who need to begin getting a decent evenings rest once more. Also, there are a few treatment choices accessible for individuals who are experiencing a powerlessness to rest, extending from straightforward techniques for counteraction to the utilization of sleeping pills. However, the best technique is one made by plunking down with a specialist and assembling a sleeping disorder treatment plan that is customized for the individual who is battling with not getting rest.

A sleeping disorder is an exceptionally regular protest among more established grown-ups. The condition influences in excess of 70 million Americans. A few indications incorporate trouble nodding off, trouble staying sleep, trouble with early daytime arousing, or not feeling rested by a decent evenings rest. Sometimes, a sleeping disorder goes on for a brief timeframe and can be effortlessly overseen. Something different is an incessant condition, enduring over a half year. This incessant a sleeping disorder is more inconvenient and can influence work, social connections, and wellbeing. Numerous individuals with a sleeping disorder are likewise determined to have different conditions, for example, wretchedness, uneasiness, hypersensitivities, or agony.

Sleep deprivation treatment starts with what is known as rest organization . This incorporates standard rest and wake times. You ought to abstain from eating, drinking, or practicing before sleep time. The room ought to be cool, agreeable, and dim.

Reasoning of Sleep Hygiene

1. keep a customary rest plan

2. practice normally yet maintain a strategic distance from practice before bed

3. hit the hay when you are sleep

4. do unwinding and exercises before bed

5. keep the room tranquil and agreeable

6. try not to eat a huge night dinner

7. in the event that you are not dozing inside 20 minutes, get up and do a re-visitation of bed when you are drowsy

8. in the event that you should nap, restrict it to 30 minutes

9. dodge liquor, caffeine, and nicotine

10. have your drug specialist check your prescriptions for medications that can keep you awake.

In the event that the sleep strategies are not working, at that point it might me important to start utilizing medicine. nsomnia is really quite common in America and a good portion of people have to deal with it at one time or another. However, most people attempt to deal with insomnia on their own and never consult a physician about it. As a matter of fact, during routine physicals and doctor visits, most doctors never even ask about a patients sleep pattern at all. Because there is some very effective sleep medication available by prescription that can be used for up to six months without any addictive properties, insomnia no longer has to be a treacherous path to walk down.

There are certain risk factors that put a person at higher risk for insomnia that might and should be addresses. Some insomnia risk factors include aging or the elderly, conflict in one’s life, being overworked, illness in the family, ranking low in social status, or a psychiatric or psychological problem. Of course those who will be at a greater risk of developing insomnia would typically be a female over the age of 60, with a history of stress, anxiety, or depression, maybe a combination of all, and one who may have an underlying medical condition. It has been a myth that as people get older, they require less sleep. That myth has never been validated and remains untrue today. Keep in mind that these risk factors do not mean that a person will develop insomnia but that they may be at a greater risk.

Negative thinking is also associated with insomnia or when something is really weighing heavily on ones mind. This can have a negative impact and because the mind is preoccupied with these thoughts, it can trigger a bout of insomnia. Sometimes people have an onset of insomnia that is very temporary while in others, it could linger for months. Depression is the number one factor associated with depression and almost all people who have been diagnosed with this condition have insomnia. Therefore, it is likely that if the depression can be dealt with, the insomnia may subside as well.

A lack of proper sleep can also weaken ones immune system which can cause them to be susceptible to all kinds of illness including colds, viruses, and the flu. Studies have shown that insomnia is much higher in women than it is in men. It is believed that the cause for this is that with women there are usually some time of hormonal fluctuation that could be the cause such as premenstrual syndrome, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Further, anxiety is much more prevalent in women than it is in men, therefore which could be another reason that insomnia is higher in women than it is in men.

There has also been a relationship between childhood sleep patterns and adult insomnia. Childhood sleep disorders would include nightmares, sleep walking, difficulty falling asleep, or restless leg syndrome. Children who experience these disorders do have a higher risk of developing insomnia later into adulthood. Another factor that can produce a great risk is ADHD in a child that spills over into adulthood.

In the event that you are as yet experiencing issues getting a decent evenings rest, you should converse with your drug specialist or doctor. The reason for your a sleeping disorder should be resolved and you may require a prescription to enable you to rest. Regardless of whether drug is utilized for sleep deprivation, rest organization standards should at present be followed and can give included advantage.

The best prescription should act rapidly and for a brief timeframe. This helps not to get the headache i a few people experience.

There are numerous different items that may be utilized for a sleeping disorder. Melatonin has been demonstrated to be useful in treating sleep deprivation because of melatonin inadequacy in old patients. It might likewise improve rest quality however presumably won't icrease the length of rest time. Kava and valerian root are additionally generally utilized for the treatment of sleep deprivation. Kava has not been demonstrated to be successful in the therapy of incessant sleep deprivation. It is likewise known to be conceivably risky to the liver. Valerian root might be useful in helping one get the chance to and also improving the nature of rest.

There are various treatment alternatives accessible for the treatment of sleep deprivation. It is imperative to analyze and endeavor to treat the root or fundamental reason first. From that point forward, the training known as sleep organization schedule ought to be polished. In the event that sleep organization schedule isn't viable, at that point the utilization of physician endorsed medicine might be justified.

The least expensive treatment is, obviously, a sleep organization schedule. On the off chance that you attempt this methodology and are fruitless, I would suggest over-the-counter diphenhydramine, while as well as putting a sleep schedule in practice. There are various sorts accessible. The following stage is visit your primary care physician for a medicine. Just like my typical proposal, start with the most minimal estimated prescription.

For a sleeping disorder treatment, I would suggest trazodone first. Trazodone speaks to roughly 40% of all a sleeping disorder remedies. It is modest at under $10 every month. On the off chance that that is incapable, go with temazepam. It is likewise mainstream and modest. It is, nonetheless, a controlled substance which implies there is a chance of addiction.

Why Insomnia Happens

A sleeping disorder can be transitory—or tend to be long haul. However, paying little attention to how long you need to manage it for, is all around terrible.

Sooner or later, a large portion of us will encounter a short, unsavory episode of sleep deprivation. Frequently, it's the consequence of stress or an adjustment in routine (like another work routine or having a child), or prescriptions that play with rest like antidepressants, circulatory strain medications, hypersensitivity drugs, and corticosteroids. Fortunately generally, when you figure out how to manage the circumstance, your rest example will return to ordinary.

In any case, on different occasions, sleep deprivation can turn into a drawn out thing. Some of the time, that can occur as the after effect of a more genuine wellbeing condition, similar to discouragement, uneasiness, or rest apnea. On some occasions, a sleeping disorder can come from awful rest propensities, such as eating an excessive number of substantial snacks before bed, dozing in an awkward situation, or remaining stuck to your cell phone or tablet throughout the night.

In any case, passing up rest leaves you feeling depleted, peevish, and for the most part unfit to work during the day. Also, after some time, it can put you in danger for medical problems like weight, hypertension, coronary illness, and diabetes.

In any case, regardless of how long your sleep deprivation goes on for, there's normally an approach to manage the base of the issue and begin resting better. Also, luckily, there are a lot of alternatives to consider.

Why You Should Steer Clear of Sleep Meds

Dozing pills and other rest advancing drugs can offer a transient answer for a brief episode of sleep deprivation. What's more, a lot of individuals use them. However, frequently, solution tranquilizers accompany disagreeable symptoms like cerebral pains, sore muscles, blockage, dry mouth, daytime exhaustion, inconvenience concentrating, wooziness, and the sky is the limit from there. Some of them are about as awful—if not more regrettable than your typical lack of sleep.

In any case, regardless of whether you're one of the fortunate rare sorts of people who don't encounter reactions from taking dozing pills, you probably won't for long. A great many people rapidly develop a resistance to the soothing impacts of dozing drugs. This either implies you need to take ever more elevated dosages to get a similar impact, or they quit working out and out.

Taking dozing pills is a tad like accident eating less junk food. Of course, both may work temporarily. Yet, in the event that you need to up your chances of accomplishing longer, more peaceful rest for a lifetime, you've truly got the chance to manufacture sound, favorable to rest propensities. .

Luckily, doing that is simpler than you may might suspect. Underneath, we'll investigate the huge number of way of life changes—both of all shapes and sizes—that you can make to assist you with dozing better. We'll likewise investigate demonstrated natural cures that can give you an unwinding support when you truly need it, less the symptoms that will in general accompany doctor prescribed prescriptions.

When chronic insomnia gets the best of you and you no longer feel that you can withstand the battle, it is time to reach out for help. Insomnia Sleep Treatment Centers specialize in the treatment of chronic insomnia, often in non medicinal ways. For many, insomnia is not a passing phase and just will not go away and Insomnia Sleep Treatment Centers can be the answer to some long awaited prayers.

Their approach is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It works very effectively on other conditions such as chronic pain, panic disorder, and addiction disorders but it works very effectively on insomnia treatment too. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT is based on the theory that there were some predisposing and precipitating factors. Simply put, the insomnia is associated with an event that triggers the insomnia and even after the event had passed, the insomnia remains. The CBT then focuses on those factors that triggered the insomnia rather than the insomnia itself. CBT centers use all different types of ways to gather information from their patients including diaries, sleep logs, and questionnaires.

The approach includes a cognitive component and several behavioral interventions. Sleep restriction, stimulus control, and sleep hygiene are used along with relaxation training. Treatment is lengthy and usually lasts up to a couple months and can involve one or more individuals at a time. You will likely be working with a psychiatrist or a psychologist, but either way this treatment is what is referred to as active treatment, meaning that the both of you will be active in your recovery.

Normally, it is your doctor that will refer you to a sleep treatment center and there it is the latest technology that is used to monitor your sleep patterns. Common tests that are run are blood work, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Overnight sleep study, and Multiple Sleep Latency. These are the tests that will give the researchers the correct tools to diagnose your problem as well as a way to correct it. It might seem like a lot of trouble but you will surely be thankful when you are getting a good night’s rest and life will surely have a good outlook.

Many want to know the cost of this treatment and if their insurance will cover the expenses. First of all, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the US can cost anywhere from $500-$800. While some health insurances will cover the expense others may not although you will have a much better chance of the health insurance company covering it if you are going to a sleep treatment center by a referral from your doctor. This way if the health insurance company denies the claim, the doctor can assist in fighting that claim.

A final factor that people usually consider is if they need a sleep treatment center or if they can attempt to correct this problem on their own since CBT has a lot to do with self help. CBT helps the patient to have their self help managed accordingly, without this odds are that the CBT would not be successful.

ot being able to fall asleep is a problem that has plagued almost everyone at some point in their lives. You toss and turn while you watch the clock slowly tick the minutes away. Just as you feel the tug of sleep, you hear the sound of the alarm clock and you have to get up and face your day without any rest.

There are many contributing factors to the problem of insomnia. One of those factors might be what you are eating during the day. Your breakfast, lunch or dinner could be the culprit behind that insomnia. Our bodies absorb certain foods and those foods could be working against your desire to sleep.

Changing our diets is one of the healthiest ways to fix a sleeping problem. Choosing foods that enhance the body’s ability to relax and fall asleep is the most natural cure you can find.

There are foods that naturally work with the body’s chemistry to promote sleep. If you find yourself struggling to get a full night’s rest it might be worth considering adjusting your diet to incorporate some of the foods listed below.

Fruits – one fruit that seems to have a stronger effect on treating insomnia is lemons.

Breads – any type of bread including muffins and bagels seem to be effective, but whole grain breads are preferable over other types.

Milk – a glass of warm milk has been said to help a person fall asleep and that is true, there is a chemical found in milk that actually promotes sleep.

Everyone’s body chemistry is different. Therefore each individual person has to do their own research into what foods work for them. If having a bowl of strawberries before bed makes you sleepy, than you need to consider that strawberries might be a trigger for you. If however, you have an apple and two hours later you are tossing and turning in bed, the natural sugar in the apple might be the reason you are suffering from insomnia.

A good way to keep track of what foods you are eating and how they impact your sleep pattern is to keep a journal. The premise is simple – you just write down each thing that you eat during the day and the time that you ate it. Then each night you mark down what time you go to bed and after waking jot down a quick note or two on how you slept and how long you slept.

Before long you will probably notice a pattern developing – your body will react to certain foods and after consuming them, you may experience insomnia. At the same time you will see clear patterns developing that tell you what foods are helping you to sleep better. With this knowledge you’ll be able to carefully plan your meals and snacks while taking into consideration what foods you need to avoid and which you should include in your diet so that you get a full and restful night’s sleep.

Insomnia and Hormones

Hormones have no chance to do their healing work without sleep. When you lose sleep, you really can't catch up. Your hormones just don't spring back like that. Sleeping less than you need affects at least 10 different hormones causing them to shift and disrupt appetite, fertility, mental health as well as cardiac health. Sleep is essential to maintain proper hormone balance and health.

Estrogen is a sleep-maintaining hormone. For women, it is common to have an estrogen deficiency in perimenopause and menopause and when the body is not producing enough natural estrogen, the ability to get a full night's sleep suffers as a result. A lack of testosterone may also be an issue. Diminished testosterone is linked with snoring and sleep apnea (a repetitive interruption of breath during sleep).

Low testosterone can contribute to sleep apnea, specifically in men, leading to insomnia or sleeplessness. The inhibited breathing and loud snoring, which is common of sleep apnea, tends to disrupt sleep many times throughout the night. The disruptions affect both the person suffering from sleep apnea as well as anyone who might be trying to sleep near them. Testosterone therapy has been shown to improve the symptoms of sleep apnea. Furthermore, when testosterone levels are in the optimal range, slow wave or deep sleep is easier to achieve. Thus, there is improvement in sleep in various ways when testosterone levels are optimal.

Insomnia, resulting from low testosterone, low estrogen, and/or sleep apnea, can lead to several other problems including fatigue, reduced insulin sensitivity, low human growth hormone levels, and high cortisol levels. Cortisol, the stress hormone, will increase with prolonged insomnia because of the stress on the body. Constant high levels of cortisol can create a hormone pattern that further reduces testosterone production. It can also lead to adrenal fatigue which often worsens the fatigue and insomnia.

Human growth hormone is naturally made during the first 90 minutes of sleep. Therefore, if your sleep is disrupted, your growth hormone production is reduced. This can lead to lower levels of testosterone and reduced lean muscle mass. Sleep is also very important for proper insulin sensitivity and glucose control. If sleep is disrupted, the body stops utilizing insulin as effectively and the body begins to need more and more insulin to control blood sugar. This leads to weight gain and a pre-diabetic state that, if not well managed, can lead to diabetes.

Insomnia Hormone Treatements

Combined with an individualized nutrition plan, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, a targeted supplement regimen, and other strategic lifestyle changes can relieve insomnia. Optimal testosterone and estrogen levels combined with proper nutrition and exercise can reduce the hormonal and lifestyle causes of obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. Furthermore, a BodyLogicMD affiliated practitioner can measure and balance cortisol, insulin, and other hormone levels thrown off by sleeplessness. Start sleeping again and increase your quality of life with treatment plans from a BodyLogicMD affiliated practitioner.

Contact a BodyLogicMD affiliated bioidentical hormone doctor nearest you to schedule an appointment and learn more about insomnia treatments that includes bioidentical hormone replacement.

Chronic Stress

Night Sweats

Adrenal Fatigue

Anxiety

Dietary habits

Insomnia is a symptom of a hormonal imbalance and can, in turn, worsen other symptoms because the body requires rest so hormones can do their job properly. Sleep is absolutely essential for repair and rejuvenation. Poor sleep habits can predispose people to an early death by way of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Occasional insomnia, resulting from unusual stress, is common. However, when the sleeplessness continues beyond the original cause, then a problem may exist. The longer a person experiences insomnia without getting help, the higher the probability of it becoming a chronic problem. You can ask your doctor about this new treatment.

Hypnosis (also known as "hypnotherapy") is often touted as a natural treatment for chronic sleep disorders, a problem estimated to affect millions of Americans each year. Although hypnosis has yet to be extensively studied in the treatment of insomnia and other sleep-related conditions, the existing research hints that hypnosis may be of some use in achieving sounder sleep.1

The Effects of Hypnosis on Sleep

Hypnosis is a trance-like state of mind during which the hypnotized individual experiences deep relaxation, focused attention, and greater openness to suggestion. It is believed that hypnosis is a way to gain greater access to the individual's unconscious mind, while at the same time lessening the likelihood that the subject will inject conscious worries, anxiety, or redirection into the process of treatment.2

Because of its ability to increase responsiveness, hypnosis is frequently used to alter behaviors and reactions that could be contributing to chronic health problems (such as insomnia and other sleep disorders).

How Hypnosis Is Induced

Although hypnosis is often induced by a hypnotherapist, self-hypnosis techniques are commonly used in the treatment of insomnia.

Hypnosis is, in many ways, similar to the experience of losing track of time while watching a movie or while daydreaming. While we are not hallucinating, we have stopped actively attending to our physical surroundings — and we are focused on an internal reality. Self-hypnosis, therefore, isn't as tricky as it may sound. Guided imagery is a tried-and-true method of self-hypnosis; many are available online or as tapes, or you can create your own guided imagery. Simple imagery includes imagining each body part becoming heavier, descending into sleep on an elevator, or relaxing in the warm sun.2

Using Hypnosis for Sleep

If you're experiencing chronic sleep problems, it's important to consult your physician to make sure that your sleep troubles aren't a symptom of an underlying medical condition (such as sleep apnea). Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences.

Your doctor may also be able to refer you to a hypnotherapist or recommend resources (such as books or audio materials) through which you can learn self-hypnosis for better sleep.

In addition to hypnosis, you may want to consider mind-body therapies and other natural approaches to healthy sleep.3

If, after using a variety of natural sleep-inducing methods, you are unable to get a good night's rest, you should consult a doctor. While sleep issues can result from mild anxiety or other related issues, it can also be related to more serious medical or psychological problems.

Hypnosis (also known as "hypnotherapy") is often touted as a natural treatment for chronic sleep disorders, a problem estimated to affect millions of Americans each year. Although hypnosis has yet to be extensively studied in the treatment of insomnia and other sleep-related conditions, the existing research hints that hypnosis may be of some use in achieving sounder sleep.1

The Effects of Hypnosis on Sleep

Hypnosis is a trance-like state of mind during which the hypnotized individual experiences deep relaxation, focused attention, and greater openness to suggestion. It is believed that hypnosis is a way to gain greater access to the individual's unconscious mind, while at the same time lessening the likelihood that the subject will inject conscious worries, anxiety, or redirection into the process of treatment.2

Because of its ability to increase responsiveness, hypnosis is frequently used to alter behaviors and reactions that could be contributing to chronic health problems (such as insomnia and other sleep disorders).

How Hypnosis Is Induced

Although hypnosis is often induced by a hypnotherapist, self-hypnosis techniques are commonly used in the treatment of insomnia.

Hypnosis is, in many ways, similar to the experience of losing track of time while watching a movie or while daydreaming. While we are not hallucinating, we have stopped actively attending to our physical surroundings — and we are focused on an internal reality. Self-hypnosis, therefore, isn't as tricky as it may sound. Guided imagery is a tried-and-true method of self-hypnosis; many are available online or as tapes, or you can create your own guided imagery. Simple imagery includes imagining each body part becoming heavier, descending into sleep on an elevator, or relaxing in the warm sun.2

Using Hypnosis for Sleep

If you're experiencing chronic sleep problems, it's important to consult your physician to make sure that your sleep troubles aren't a symptom of an underlying medical condition (such as sleep apnea). Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences.

Your doctor may also be able to refer you to a hypnotherapist or recommend resources (such as books or audio materials) through which you can learn self-hypnosis for better sleep.

In addition to hypnosis, you may want to consider mind-body therapies and other natural approaches to healthy sleep.3

If, after using a variety of natural sleep-inducing methods, you are unable to get a good night's rest, you should consult a doctor. While sleep issues can result from mild anxiety or other related issues, it can also be related to more serious medical or psychological problems.

Sleep Study

Polysomnography, also called a sleep study, is a test used to diagnose sleep disorders. Polysomnography records your brain waves, the oxygen level in your blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements during the study.

Polysomnography is usually done at a sleep disorders unit within a hospital or at a sleep center. The test records your nighttime sleep patterns. Polysomnography is occasionally done during the day to accommodate shift workers who habitually sleep during the day.

In addition to helping diagnose sleep disorders, polysomnography may be used to help adjust your treatment plan if you've already been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

Why it's done

Polysomnography monitors your sleep stages and cycles to identify if or when your sleep patterns are disrupted and why.

The normal process of falling asleep begins with a sleep stage called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. During this stage, your brain waves, as recorded by electroencephalography (EEG), slow down considerably.

Your eyes don't move back and forth rapidly during NREM, in contrast to later stages of sleep. After an hour or two of NREM sleep, your brain activity picks up again, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep begins. Most dreaming occurs during REM sleep.

You normally go through multiple sleep cycles a night, cycling between NREM and REM sleep in about 90 minutes. Sleep disorders can disturb this sleep process.

Your doctor may recommend polysomnography if he or she suspects you have:

• Sleep apnea or another sleep-related breathing disorder. In this condition, your breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

• Periodic limb movement disorder. In this sleep disorder, you involuntarily flex and extend your legs while sleeping. This condition is sometimes associated with restless legs syndrome.

• Narcolepsy. You experience overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep in this condition.

• REM sleep behavior disorder. This sleep disorder involves acting out dreams as you sleep.

• Unusual behaviors during sleep. Your doctor may perform this test if you do unusual activities during sleep, such as walking, moving around a lot or rhythmic movements.

• Unexplained chronic insomnia. If you consistently have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, your doctor may recommend polysomnography.

• First, you should never think that insomnia is acceptable and write it off in any way at all. In fact, insomnia can actually be a sign of bigger problems. Insomnia may not be a disease so to speak but it is a condition that can be treated. One of the biggest problems is that most people do not ever discuss their insomnia problems with their doctor; therefore they can never be resolved.

• So many times, people think that insomnia is a temporary condition that will go away on its own but it never does, it just gets worse. You could be suffering from anxiety, panic, or depression and may not even be aware of it yet. The doctor will figure this out and can give you something to make you feel better which will likely leads to you gaining back your sleep.

• Insomnia should not be ignored for many reasons. Perhaps it is your medication that is causing this insomnia, or maybe you have a medical condition that has yet to be diagnosed, or maybe you have an emotional condition that you are unaware of. Whatever the reason you can be certain of one thing and that is that there definitely is a reason. Insomnia, especially chronic insomnia is your body’s way of letting you know that something is not right.

• If you were to decide to ignore insomnia, eventually your physical health would deteriorate; your mental health would as well. Your performance at work and basically in all that you do will lack the vigor that it once had and you will become irritable and moody with loved ones. This is your body’s way of handling what insomnia is dishing out. One of the major ways for people to remain healthy is to get plenty of rest and eat a well balanced diet so when you are only averaging a couple of hours at best, of sleep per night you will soon feel like you have been hit by a truck. Your mind may even go into a delirious state and your wick will be very short.

• If you go and see the doctor so he can find out what is causing the insomnia, at the very least he will be able to provide you with some medication to help you get some rest. Medications for insomnia have come a long way and they can now be used for a period of up to six months and they no longer have the addictive properties that they once had. In other words, they are now safe to use and they do not leave you feeling lethargic the next morning.

• This will help you get some rest but there is no insomnia medicine that can be taken indefinitely so you will have to work in a proactive manner to work with doctors and such to develop a new plan for when the medication period is over. The bottom line is that you do not want to become dependent on anything to fall into a good night’s sleep.

Sleep Treatment Centers

When chronic insomnia gets the best of you and you no longer feel that you can withstand the battle, it is time to reach out for help. Insomnia Sleep Treatment Centers specialize in the treatment of chronic insomnia, often in non medicinal ways. For many, insomnia is not a passing phase and just will not go away and Insomnia Sleep Treatment Centers can be the answer to some long awaited prayers.

Their approach is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It works very effectively on other conditions such as chronic pain, panic disorder, and addiction disorders but it works very effectively on insomnia treatment too. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also known as CBT is based on the theory that there were some predisposing and precipitating factors. Simply put, the insomnia is associated with an event that triggers the insomnia and even after the event had passed, the insomnia remains. The CBT then focuses on those factors that triggered the insomnia rather than the insomnia itself. CBT centers use all different types of ways to gather information from their patients including diaries, sleep logs, and questionnaires.

The approach includes a cognitive component and several behavioral interventions. Sleep restriction, stimulus control, and sleep hygiene are used along with relaxation training. Treatment is lengthy and usually lasts up to a couple months and can involve one or more individuals at a time. You will likely be working with a psychiatrist or a psychologist, but either way this treatment is what is referred to as active treatment, meaning that the both of you will be active in your recovery.

Normally, it is your doctor that will refer you to a sleep treatment center and there it is the latest technology that is used to monitor your sleep patterns. Common tests that are run are blood work, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Overnight sleep study, and Multiple Sleep Latency. These are the tests that will give the researchers the correct tools to diagnose your problem as well as a way to correct it. It might seem like a lot of trouble but you will surely be thankful when you are getting a good night’s rest and life will surely have a good outlook.

Many want to know the cost of this treatment and if their insurance will cover the expenses. First of all, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in the US can cost anywhere from $500-$800. While some health insurances will cover the expense others may not although you will have a much better chance of the health insurance company covering it if you are going to a sleep treatment center by a referral from your doctor. This way if the health insurance company denies the claim, the doctor can assist in fighting that claim.

A final factor that people usually consider is if they need a sleep treatment center or if they can attempt to correct this problem on their own since CBT has a lot to do with self .help. CBT helps the patient to have their self help managed accordingly, without this odds are that the CBT would not be successful.

Altitude Imsomnia

Insomnia can show its ugly little face in many different ways. Pilots, flight attendants, and even military trainees can suffer from this rare form of insomnia. This occurs when there is ascension to altitudes greater than about two miles up. In addition to the insomnia itself, altitude insomnia also includes fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite. One thing to keep in mind is that altitude is not always a factor that is related to flying in an airplane because altitude insomnia is also common among mountain climbers too.

Clinically, it has been indicated that usually within a week of being exposed to the high altitudes, the person will experience insomnia where they will be able to sleep but the sleep will be interrupted consistently due to the inability to catch their breath. They may feel like they are suffocating or choking. There may also be other symptoms as mentioned above that can accompany the altitude insomnia.

Altitude insomnia occurs in about 25% of people who rise about 2000 miles above sea level. Clinically, altitude insomnia has a few other names such as acute mountain sickness, Acosta’s disease, Alpine sickness, and hypobaropathie. The primary cause of this is exposure to low air pressure which is what happens to people at high altitudes. Now because the aircrafts of today are modernized, the cabins are pressurized which therefore does not affect travelers on airplanes.

Normally it is the symptoms that are associated with the altitude that trigger the insomnia. Those who climb mountains, pilots, or flight crews follow what they consider to be a Golden Rule, “Fly high and sleep low.” While that might not make much sense to the average Joe, to them it signifies a way to expose and re expose themselves to repeated altitude little by little to avoid these symptoms. They ascend gradually, however this is not possible with flight crews. Many claim that fast ascension is not the issue at all but experts do agree that there is much about this in particular disorder that is not fully understood yet. There has been a strong link though that has indicated that when there is a rapid dissension that the symptoms disappear very quickly.

There are drugs that can also help to prevent altitude insomnia; Diamox and Sumatriptan are both prescribed with the prevention of altitude sickness in mind, therefore eliminating any altitude insomnia. Self help measures include drinking plenty of water and cocoa leaves have also been known to help altitude sickness as well. Although altitude insomnia is one of many symptoms that occur with extreme heights, it is important to remember that this is a lung complication where the lings are affected by the extreme altitude.

Recently a new drug came out to help people with this condition. Acetazolamide will be able to help many people that are subjected to altitude related illnesses. What researchers found was that this drug reduced pressure within the lungs by relaxing muscles that line the lungs’ capillaries. This reduces fluid in the lungs and increases oxygenation.

Insomnia is many times mistaken for a sleep disorder, when in fact it is basically a complaint about the difficulty of falling asleep, trouble staying asleep or unrestorative sleep. There are many reasons that people suffer from insomnia and there is usually an underlying clue to determine the cause of the problem.

Insomnia resulting from alcohol is one of the problems that can be eliminated. Most people think that drinking alcohol is comparable to a sedative, but actually it may put you to sleep for a few hours only to wake you up in an alarming state. Alcohol insomnia will then make you restless throughout the remainder of the night. A nightcap before bed will have the same effect; however, you may have a quick nap and then a fitful sleep throughout the rest of the night.

Combating Alcohol Insomnia

An individual who is very stressed may use alcohol as a way to calm the anxiety they are suffering from. This eventually turns into a cycle and the pattern of alcohol insomnia will begin to take effect. Two or three hours of sleep and then wakeful, tossing nights, usually with vivid alarming dreams is what alcohol insomniacs are accustomed to. Eliminating the alcohol before bedtime is the key factor in reducing alcohol insomnia.

Teaching the individual different ways in which to handle his anxiety before bedtime is very important. Sleep disorder behaviorists call this proper bedtime hygiene. In other words, preparing the brain and body for sleep is the proper bedtime hygiene. Eliminating alcohol from an individuals diet or at least limiting it to one cocktail or glass of wine before dinner will begin the process of proper bedtime hygiene. The process will go deeper to find out the reason behind the anxiety. Sometimes it is just a transient sleep insomnia, which means that an individual is stressing over an upcoming job review or wedding or some other similar event in their life. This stress will pass soon, but anxieties for other people reach much deeper into their souls.

Some individuals have inner conflicts, fears and phobias which can only be resolved with proper psychiatric counseling. These people will use alcohol as a crutch to help them sleep and in fact are only making their alcohol insomnia worse. Convincing these people that they do indeed have a serious anxiety that needs psychological counseling and not alcohol to remedy their troubles is their first step in reducing their alcohol insomnia.

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