When to Worry About Growing Fibroids
Fibroids are common uterine growths that usually don’t cause problems. Learn when it may be helpful to pay attention to uterine fibroids and explore treatments that can help.
Understanding the Treatment Options for Insomnia
Insomnia goes beyond one or two frustrating nights of tossing and turning in bed. For many, insomnia is a vicious cycle of difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep through the night.
Over time, a lack of quality sleep affects concentration, energy levels, and mood. Untreated insomnia can have long-lasting effects on your health.
At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, we offer diagnostic sleep studies and other testing services to understand what’s causing our patients’ insomnia.
Our pulmonary and sleep specialists, Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshu Chandarana, MD, offer medical treatments, lifestyle recommendations, and other resources to improve your sleep quality and your health.
An overview of insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. People with insomnia often wake up too early and are unable to go back to sleep.
Other symptoms of insomnia include:
- Low energy
- Daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty focusing
- Depression
- Anxiousness about sleep
- Increased risk of personal injuries
Occasional insomnia can result from stress or trauma. Chronic insomnia that lasts for a month or longer can indicate an underlying medical condition or issues with medications. Your sleep habits can also contribute to persistent bouts of insomnia.
The first step in addressing insomnia
Addressing insomnia often begins with a commitment to positive sleep habits, or sleep hygiene.
Following a bedtime routine involves going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, including on weekends, to reset your internal clock (circadian rhythm).
In this age of technology, when overstimulation is increasingly common, it’s crucial to unplug from all electronics, including tablets and televisions, 1-2 hours before bedtime to give your mind and body time to wind down.
It also helps to create a healthy sleeping environment. Use room-darkening curtains to block out light, and set the room temperature on the cool side, 60-67°F, to avoid overheating.
Techniques for mindfulness and relaxation
Gentle stretching exercises, meditation, and other mindfulness activities that calm the nervous system and reduce physical tension can benefit people with insomnia. Incorporating a relaxation practice into your nightly routine helps the body prepare for sleep naturally.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT is a therapeutic approach to insomnia and other sleep disorders. This form of talk therapy helps people recognize thought patterns and behaviors that interfere with sleep.
An experienced therapist also provides tools you can use in real-time to reduce anxieties about sleep and correct behaviors that disrupt sleep quality.
Short-term sleep aids
Medications can benefit people who adopt healthier sleep habits but still struggle with insomnia. Our providers may prescribe sleep aids for short-term use to reset your sleep clock. Along with CBT and other strategies, sleep medications can support better quality sleep.
We may also recommend dietary changes or nutritional supplements to support your overall health and wellness.
Call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep today to schedule a consultation to discuss a customized treatment plan for insomnia.
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