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Patient Educational Information
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Insomniacs have problems either
falling asleep or staying asleep. Specifically, they
can exhibit: delayed sleep onset, frequent,
prolonged arousals during the night, early morning
awakenings or low quality sleep.
Most people have experienced
insomnia during temporary periods of stress in their
life. This is termed acute or short-term insomnia
and is usually resolved on its own. However, if the
problem persists for more than four weeks,
professional advice should be sought. |
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Are There Different Types of Insomnia?
An individual can exhibit either
primary or secondary insomnia.
Primary insomnia
is typically associated with stress and is not
associated with other mental or medical problems.
Secondary insomnia
is the result of underlying problems such as
anxiety, mood disorders or medical conditions such
as restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea.
Ask
the Expert
Dr. Divya Thai is the
Director of Premier Sleep Center and a Sleep Specialist
certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine.
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What Is the Most Common
Cause of Insomnia?
Stress is the number one cause of
insomnia. Under stress, it is more difficult to
fall asleep. Occasionally, it can cause early
morning awakenings. Insomnia might also be a
symptomatic of an anxiety or mood disorder or
even a symptom of a medical condition such as
chronic pain or arthritis.
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Editor: What Therapies Are
Available to Treat Insomnia?
While sleep pills can be very effective
for short-term insomnia, they are not
recommended for a long-term sleep problem. For
chronic insomnia, there is cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) where patients learn to manage
their own symptoms. This approach is generally
more effective and the beneficial results tend
to last longer.
Some Myths
and Facts About Insomnia
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The Older You Get, the
Fewer Hours of Sleep Required.
Experts recommend a range of
seven to nine hours of sleep for the average
adult. While sleep patterns change as we age,
the amount of sleep needed generally does not.
Older individuals may wake more frequently
through the night and may actually get less
nighttime sleep, but their sleep need is no less
than that of younger adults.
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Napping During the Day May Interfere
with Nocturnal Sleep.
Brief, therapeutic naps that last 20 to
40 minutes and are scheduled at regular times as
a daily routine can be useful in maintaining
wakefulness after getting up in the morning.
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If You Wake Up in the
Middle of the Night, It is Best to Stay in Bed,
Count Sheep or Toss and Turn until You
Eventually Fall Asleep.
Waking up in the middle of the
night and not being able to go back to sleep is
a common symptom of insomnia. Various relaxation
techniques, such as progressive muscle
relaxation, or guided visual imagery may help
induce sleep; such methods are more effective
than counting sheep Whichever technique is used,
most experts agree that if you cannot fall
asleep with 15 to 20 minutes, then you should
get out bed, go to another room and engage in
some relaxing activity, perhaps listening to
music or reading, for example. Return to bed
only when you feel sleepy; and above all,
avoid watching
the clock!
Call
Premier Sleep Center today and schedule an
appointment with Dr. Thai if you are experiencing
insomnia! 516-593-9500 |
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