We know how important a good night’s sleep is for our overall health. It effects our mood, immune system, blood pressure and ability to concentrate, among other things. If you go through a non-sleeping period that lasts more than a month you may have insomnia. Talking to your doctor can help you determine what’s causing the sleeplessness and how it can be treated.
If you’re having trouble sleeping and are considering making an appointment with your doctor, here are six things to know about insomnia from the Huffington Post.
- You may be predisposed to insomnia. Some people are naturally good sleepers, while others are not. This could be a biologic predisposition. Did you grow up with a regular sleep schedule or bedtime routine? If your answer is no, this could be a factor as well.
- Look out for the “two p’s.” The precipitating cause is a stressful event, good or bad, that creates an initial disruption of sleep. The perpetuating cause is the reason insomnia continues, even after the stressful event.
- It’s linked with depression. It’s hard to tell which comes first, depression or bad sleep. Treating the two at the same time can improve symptoms of both.
- Popping pills won’t get you far. Medication isn’t a long-term solution because its effects can wear off over time.
- Kitchen “cures” may or may not help. Drinks and teas may help slow your mind and give you that sleepy feeling. They can be worth a try. One study found that drinking tart cherry juice before bed eased insomnia symptoms in older adults. Teas like chamomile seem to help as well.
- Attention can make it worse. Some doctors recommend that their patients keep sleep diaries to identify lifestyle factors keeping them awake. While this can be helpful for identifying the issue early on, the best thing to do is not over analyze your slumber over an extended period of time. This can make it even harder to fall asleep.
To learn more, check out these other related articles:
Why are you always so tired? Here’s why
Do your devices keep you up at night?
