What are the possible ways to diagnose and treat insomnia?

 


Suffering from a sleepless night can make you feel tired and grumpy. If it goes on for a few days, insomnia can cause numerous problems. Aside from headaches and mental well-being issues, it can lead to complications like increased chances of accidents and lower job performance. Thus, you should diagnose and treat this sleep disorder as early as possible. Here is all you need to know about this!

How can you diagnose insomnia?

If you are suffering from sleepless nights, you may have insomnia. Here is how you can determine whether you have this condition:

  1. Physical exam:

If the cause of this sleep problem is unknown, doctors recommend patients undergo a physical exam to find out the medical condition that may be leading to this issue. At times, a blood test is conducted to check if you have thyroid or other conditions resulting in poor sleep.

  1. Sleep habits:

To determine if you have insomnia, your sleep expert may ask you some questions related to your sleep habits. He may even ask you to fill out a questionnaire to understand your sleep-wake pattern and level of daytime sleepiness. Some patients also prepare a sleep diary for a couple of weeks to help with the diagnosis.

  1. Sleep study:

For patients who do not have clear signs of insomnia or symptoms of another rest disorder like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, undergoing a sleep study may be recommended. These tests monitor and record several body activities like brain waves, heartbeat, eye movements, breathing, and body movements to make the diagnosis.

How can you treat insomnia?

  1. CBT:

To help treat sleeplessness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment. The cure assists with controlling or eliminating negative thoughts so you can fall asleep. The aim is to recognise and challenge beliefs that affect your ability to rest. A few strategies doctors use as part of CBT to treat this condition are relaxation techniques, light therapy, staying passively awake, stimulus control therapy, and sleep restrictions.

  1. Meds:

While doctors do not recommend relying on sleep pills as a permanent solution for treating insomnia, they can assist with the permanent solution. They can help insomnia patients in falling and staying asleep. But, you should consider the side effects like daytime grogginess, increased risk of falling, and getting addicted before opting for this cure. Besides sleep pills, other sleep drugs that can enhance your sleep include Lunesta and Zaleplon.

  1. Lifestyle changes:

Making some lifestyle changes can help you catch up on good-quality rest. Insomnia patients are recommended solutions like sticking to a sleep schedule, checking medications, avoiding daytime naps, limiting caffeine consumption, avoiding daytime naps, and staying active during the day to sleep better.

  1. Other treatments:

Some other cures for insomnia are melatonin supplements, acupuncture, yoga, tai chi, meditation, and valerian consumption. These solutions can enhance your sleep quality so you can wake up refreshed the following day.


Insomnia is a common sleep problem that can prevent you from falling or staying asleep. Those with the condition should not worry much as the sleep disorder is typically curable despite your age.
Location: India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Do You Want to Know About Healthy Sleep?

Image
  In today’s fast-paced world, a good night’s sleep has become something of an indulgence. It’s fallen down our list of priorities behind work, chores, social time, and entertainment. However, sleep shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s as important to your physical and mental health as food and water. The body’s need for a healthy sleep is a relatively new research field. Scientists are looking into what happens to the body during sleep and why the process itself is so essential. We do know that sleep is necessary to: ·         maintain critical body functions ·         restore energy ·         Repair muscle tissue   ·         allow the brain to process new information We also know what happens when the body doesn’t get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause a range of mental and physical problems, including impairing your ability to: ·         think clearly ·         focus ·         react ·         control emotions This can result in serious problems in the workplace and at home.
Read more

Insomnia in Teenagers: Reasons and Solutions

  Sleep is an essential aspect of a teenager's overall health and well-being. However, many teenagers experience difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, commonly known as insomnia. Insomnia can significantly impact their daily functioning and quality of life.  In this blog, we will explore the reasons behind insomnia in teenagers and provide some effective solutions to help address this sleep disorder. Reasons for Insomnia in Teenagers Biological changes: During adolescence, teenagers undergo various physiological changes, including shifts in their internal body clocks. This shift can lead to a delayed release of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep, making it harder for them to fall asleep early. Increased academic and social demands: Teenagers often face a higher workload at school, along with extracurricular activities and social commitments. These demands can lead to heightened stress levels, anxiety, and an overactive mind, making it challenging to relax and fal
Read more

What is Sleep Apnea? What should I avoid eating while having one?

Image
  Bring all of your favorite foods, right? Whether you like sweet or savory, it seems like the holidays provide the best dinners and desserts. However, if you have sleep apnea, you should watch what you eat because it could help or hurt your condition. Keep reading to discover some of the best foods for sleep apnea as well as what you should avoid for a good night of counting sheep. What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that can lead to serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart trouble, if untreated. Untreated sleep apnea causes breathing to stop repeatedly during sleep, causing loud snoring and daytime tiredness, even with a full night's sleep.    Foods That Help Foods Rich in Melatonin Many fruits and vegetables contain melatonin, which is a natural sleep enhancer. Asparagus, corn, cherries, grapes, broccoli, and cucumbers all contain this sleepy hormone. And, many recommend tart cherry juice as the best natural source of melatonin. Just mak
Read more