Many different disorders can cause insomnia. They include:. Secondary insomnia also can be caused by some medicines. These include asthma medicines, allergy or cold medicines, and certain heart and blood pressure medicines. Additionally, the use of some substances can cause insomnia. These include caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol. Insomnia is diagnosed primarily based on your medical and sleep history.
Your doctor may ask you:. He or she also may ask you to wear a small monitor while you sleep. The information may help your doctor determine the cause of your insomnia. A sleep diary may help you and your doctor identify patterns and conditions that are affecting your sleep.
Your doctor may also do a physical exam. This will help him or her rule out other medical problems that could be causing your insomnia. If your doctor thinks another sleep disorder is causing your insomnia, he or she may order a sleep study.
This is when you sleep in a lab overnight. Lab technicians monitor your brain activity, eye movements, oxygen levels, heart rate, and blood pressure while you sleep. The best way to prevent insomnia is to develop a good sleep routine.
There are several ways to treat insomnia. Treatment usually depends on your health and sleep history. It also may depend on what kind of insomnia you have. Behavioral therapy for insomnia can teach you about good sleep habits. It usually includes learning ways to relax and not worry as much about sleep. You can also learn muscle relaxation and deep breathing exercises to help you relax. It is often just as effective as prescription sleeping medicines. OTC sleep aids are not meant to be used for a long time.
Be sure to follow the directions on the label carefully. Certain supplements are advertised as treatments for insomnia. Some examples are melatonin and valerian. Talk to your doctor before you try one of these products. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe medicine to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Prescription sleeping pills may help you sleep better.
Common ones include eszopiclone brand name: Lunesta , zolpidem brand name: Ambien , and zaleplon brand name: Sonata. These medicines can have side effects. Some may be serious. You may also be referred to a neurologist. A neurologist is a doctor with in-depth training in nervous systems disorders. An imbalance in your brain chemistry can cause a many negative symptoms, including insomnia. Neurologists also treat restless leg syndrome, a common cause of insomnia.
Psychologists and psychiatrists can help treat some cases of insomnia. A psychologist is a social scientist who has studied behavior and mental processes. A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. A psychologist or psychiatrist can offer counseling or behavioral therapy to help treat your insomnia.
They can also treat other mental health conditions that might be causing your sleep problems. Many practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine offer treatments for insomnia. For example, certified yoga and meditation instructors can help you learn relaxation techniques that could help you sleep better.
Massage therapists can also help you relax and relieve tense muscles that may be disturbing your sleep. A review article published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine suggests that acupuncture is also an effective treatment for insomnia. Talk to your doctor before you try any complementary or alternative medicine. While some treatments are supported by scientific research, others are not. At first, they were thought to be safer.
But recent studies suggest they have as much or more risk than the older sleep drugs. Get a thorough medical exam. Sleep problems can be caused by depression or anxiety, pain, restless leg syndrome, and many other conditions. Even if an exam does not turn up an underlying cause, you should try other solutions before you try drugs.
Also, many doctors prescribe sleeping pills instead of trying other treatments first. Sleep studies show that they only help people fall asleep about 8 to 20 minutes faster. And they add less than 35 minutes to nightly sleep. If you take sleeping pills for many days in a row, one risk is that you may start to depend on them. You may need them to fall asleep. If you stop taking them, you may sleep worse than you did before you tried the pills.
This is why most doctors recommend you only take them occasionally, or for a few days in a row. Over-the-counter sleep aids, such as antihistamines Benadryl, Tylenol PM, and generic , have risks, too.
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