A Few Facts About Insomnia
By Sara Butler
Trouble sleeping is a common problem. About 40 million Americans currently cope with sleep problems each year, including insomnia. For some people, it’s a passing problem. For others, it makes a huge impact on their quality of sleep as well as their quality of life. It can even increase the risk of other health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Here are a few things you need to know about insomnia.
Not All Insomnia is the Same
People tend to think of insomnia as just one thing, but the truth is that insomnia can hit you for the short term or turn into a more chronic problem with serious health consequences.
For some people struggling with sleeplessness due to issues in their lives, such as personal problems or career issues, is temporary. This is referred to as acute insomnia. But if a person has trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep for more than three months, that’s called chronic insomnia and needs to be addressed with a medical professional.
You Should Take Steps to Treat Acute Insomnia
If you’re having trouble sleeping and staying that way and it’s a problem that has just begun recently, then be proactive about it. Don’t let it turn into a chronic problem.
You can help yourself by:
- Exercising - Exercise helps people to sleep better at night
- Watching the caffeine - If you have trouble sleeping, cut off caffeine in the early afternoon at the latest
- Creating a sleep oasis - Your bedroom should be a quiet, cool, and relaxing place; don’t keep a television in there and put your phone away at least an hour before bed
- Having a bedtime - You should go to bed and wake up at about the same time every day, even on the weekends
A regular sleep schedule is an effective tactic you can take to try and nip sleep issues in the bud.
There’s Treatment for Insomnia
If you’ve fallen into chronic insomnia, there are things that can be done to help you. Start by contacting a healthcare provider so they can assess you for some of the most common conditions that cause sleep problems. You may be referred to a sleep specialist for further investigation.
Quality sleep is very important to your overall health and wellness, so make getting help for your sleep issues a priority in your life.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Des Peres, Mo.