Have Problems Falling Asleep At Night?
Have problems falling asleep at night? Have you tried a sound machine with some soft music? These are just a few tips you might get from a medical professional.
Sleep medicine is a recognized medical subspecialty which shows just how many people are having trouble sleeping in our modern society. Doctors who specialize in sleep medicine help people who are unable to sleep well. Sleep doctors are able to detect and treat both common and rare sleep disorders. Some common sleep disorders are insomnia, jet lag, sleepwalking, snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) makes sure that best medical care is provided to people with sleeping troubles. The AASM accredits centers and labs that treat people who have sleep problems. In 1977 the AASM accredited the first sleep disorders center. The AASM also certifies behavioral sleep medicine (BSM) specialists. These doctors help people improve their sleep by changing how they think and behave.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by chronic problems falling asleep, staying asleep or only sleeping for several hours and being wake unable to fall back to sleep. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake.
Sleep hygiene consists of basic habits and tips that help you develop a pattern of healthy sleep. There are also easy ways to make your bed and your bedroom more comfortable. The most important thing to change bad habits into good sleep habits is to create an optima sleep environment.
• Make sure your bed is comfortable. Differ¬ent types of mattresses help with different is¬sues. Some mattresses are made to accommo¬date different types bedmates’ sleeping habits and comfort levels. Others are made to adjust to your firmness preferences. In addition, try therapeutic-shaped foam pillows that cradle your neck or extra pillows that help you sleep on your side. Make sure your sheets are com¬fortable and clean.
• Ensure your bedroom remains primarily a place for sleeping. Don’t use your bed for paying bills, doing work, etc. Help your body recognize that this is a place for rest or intimacy. So take the television out as well as the computer.
• Keep your bedroom peaceful and comfort¬able. Make sure your room is well ventilated and the temperature is consistent, and try to keep it quiet. If you have a problem with out¬side noise, a fan or a “white noise” machine can help block it out. In fact, the white noise machine, have become very sophisticated now, and offer not just white noise but the sounds of waterfalls, rain on a tin roof, the sounds in the rain forest as well as the beating of a heart to help with a baby’s sleep. Gentle, slow music is another remedy that can help to improve sleep without medication.
• Hide your clock. A big, illuminated digital clock may cause you to focus on the time and make you feel stressed and anxious. Place your clock so you can’t see the time when you are in bed.
There are also some habits you should develop during the day to help with night sleep.
• Do not nap during the day. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, try not to nap dur¬ing the day. If you are feeling especially tired and feel as if you absolutely must nap, be sure to sleep for less than 30 minutes, early in the day.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol. Avoid drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages for several hours before bedtime.
• Don’t smoke. Nicotine is a stimulant and can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Expose yourself to bright light/sunlight soon after awakening. This will help to regulate your body’s natural biological clock. Likewise, try to keep your bedroom dark while you are sleeping so that the light will not interfere with your rest.
• Exercise early in the day. Twenty to thirty minutes of exercise every day can help you sleep, but be sure to exercise in the morning or afternoon. Aerobic activities before going to sleep can make falling asleep difficult as exercise stimulates the body.
Your level of iron should be checked. Iron deficient women tend to have more problems sleeping, so if your blood is iron poor, a supplement might help.
Sleeping machines with sounds is really a marvel of new technology. You can get ones that have all the rain sounds or waterfalls, included with AM/FM radio, coupled with a CD player for your relaxation techniques. When I worked the night shift, I began using one to block out daytime sounds, and 15 years later, I am still using it. In fact, can’t go to sleep with out it. I highly recommend for you to add one of these machines to your sleep environment to help with insomnia.
Insomnia Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
40% adults are suffering from insomnia as per the National Center for Sleep Disorders. Chronic sleep deprivation leads to a lowered immune system, irritability, lack of concentration and daytime sleepiness. People with insomnia often suffer from diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and memory loss.
4 types of sleeping disorders
(1) Breathing interruptions during sleep is called sleep apnea
(2) Difficulty in falling asleep or Insomnia
(3) Narcolepsy - sleep attacks during the day
(4) A tingling or prickly sensation in the legs called restless legs syndrome
- Trouble in falling asleep at night
- Disturbed sleep like waking up repeatedly during the night, and not able to go back to sleep again
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Feeling tired in the morning after waking up
- Feeling sleepiness during the working hour
- Psychological problems like irritation, memory loss and lack of concentration.
Insomnia causes
Psychological (like anxiety), physical (arthritis pain, cough or any other physical discomforts), and temporary events (environmental aspects like noise, light, or extreme temperatures) are the three main causes for insomnia.
Insomnia Treatment
There are many treatments for sleep disorders. If you are facing sleep disturbances for few days, you can improve the condition just by having regular sleep habits, lifestyle change, exercise etc.
If the problem continues, it is always best to ask a doctor for a proper diagnosis to identify the cause of trouble sleep.
You should take medical treatment if sleep disorders cause problems in carrying out daily activities. The main reason is most of the drugs create a dependency in the long run.
You can also try self-help and other non-medicinal insomnia treatments like improved sleep habits, sleep hygiene, stress management and relaxation techniques and other natural sleep aids.
Disclaimer : Please consider this article only for general information. You should consult your doctor before taking action.
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