Difficulty falling or staying asleep has a dozen different causes. Though occasional sleeplessness is a common frustration, insomnia can be a chronic condition. The continual lack of sleep caused by insomnia makes it difficult to feel rested and face the challenges of everyday life.
What Causes Insomnia?
Chronic insomnia is disrupted sleep that occurs at least three nights per week and lasts at least three months. This sleep disorder can have many underlying causes. Common factors include poor sleep hygiene, changes in the person’s environment, other medical conditions, and certain medications.
Signs & Symptoms of Insomnia
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty maintaining sleep
- Waking up earlier than required
- Feeling unrested in the morning
- Tiredness and sleepiness during the day
- Mood changes and irritability
- Trouble paying attention or remembering
The Long-Term Effects of Insomnia
Untreated insomnia can lead to other medical and psychological issues or cause them to worsen. Over time, sleep deprivation is linked to hypertension, heart attacks and stroke, obesity, diabetes, depression and anxiety, memory loss and a weakened immune system, just to name a few.
Can A Sleep Study Diagnose Insomnia?
Overnight sleep studies offer valuable information that can confirm a diagnosis of insomnia. By tracking a person’s heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, and movement while asleep, clinicians gather data to help accurately identify the sleep disorder.
Treatment for Insomnia
For mild insomnia, improving sleep hygiene may be enough to restore regular sleep patterns. For more severe cases, many doctors first prescribe medications as a solution. However, it’s important to know that there are also effective, drug-free treatment options for insomnia. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi) works through behavior modifications, implementing healthy sleep habits, and helping people to relax before bed.
Insomnia Sleep Study
Effective treatment is possible, and it starts with accurate diagnostic testing. Get more information on how you can get the rest you deserve.
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