INSOMNIA
"I can't shut down my brain and just fall asleep".
"I have trouble falling and staying asleep".
This is one of most common sleep symptoms we treat at the sleep clinic. In fact, an estimated 35% of adults in the US are sleeping less than 7 hours in a 24 hour period.
Stress, poor sleep hygiene, medical and psychiatric conditions and other sleep disorders can cause insomnia. About 1 in 4 Americans develop insomnia each year. While majority of them recover within a year, about 10% of them develop chronic insomnia.
There is more scientific research emerging on the critical role of sleep in metabolism, emotional processing, regulation of appetite, immune response, hormonal balance, pain reception, optimal brain and heart function. Therefore, the untoward consequences of insomnia are multiple; increased risk for obesity, seizures, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, addiction, mania, poor cognitive performance and even shortened lifespan!
.jpg)
Despite the increasing incidence of insomnia, more effective, accessible and even exciting options to treat insomnia are available now than ever before.Cognitive Behavior Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the standard treatment option recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine(AASM), National Institute of Health (NIH). Unlike other therapies, CBTI is a brief, 4 - 6 weekly program that entails cognitive restructuring and behavioral interventions with a long lasting efficacy. CBTI is more effective than medications, has no side effects, helps in eliminating the need to use medications. Medications are a reasonable short term option. The risks vs benefits would be discussed with the patients during the clinic visits.
The digital era has also ushered in phone apps, technical gadgets to help combat this growing sleeplessness.
Schedule with us to explore the treatment options.