Insomnia Specialist

What is insomnia?

If you have insomnia, you consistently find it hard to get a good night’s sleep. Either you have trouble falling asleep, struggle to remain asleep all night, or both. When you wake up in the morning, you don’t feel well-rested and you likely continue to feel tired throughout the day.

Insomnia can affect your ability to concentrate, your memory, and your productivity. It might also lead to mood problems like irritability or depression.

You might not think of your sleep patterns right away when issues like these arise, but insomnia can have a major influence on your life and wellness.

What is causing my insomnia?

The cause of your insomnia can be traced to psychological, physiological, and environmental factors. Sometimes insomnia is a symptom of a more serious underlying condition.

Weingrow Wellness & Medical Center explores the possible causes and contributing factors that are leading to your inability to fall or stay asleep, including:

• Life stressors like work, relationships, or financial stress
• Mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression)
• Chronic pain Unhealthy habits like drinking or illicit drug use
• Hormone fluctuations
• Certain medications
• Sleep apnea

On average, you’re more likely to experience insomnia when you age or if you’re a woman. Women experience insomnia more often than men due to their shifting hormones, often throughout the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or during menopause.

What happens if I don’t treat my insomnia?

Avoiding treatment for your insomnia can take a major toll on your way of life. You might begin to struggle at work or in school due to concentration issues or within relationships because of your changing mood.

Untreated insomnia can also contribute to physiological health issues in ways you might not expect. Long-term insomnia makes you more likely to gain weight or develop health issues like hypertension.

How is insomnia treated?

Treatment for insomnia varies because there are so many different possible causes. You might need to take hormones to correct an imbalance that’s causing your poor sleep or work with the team at Weingrow Wellness & Medical Center to manage a chronic disease.

In any case, insomnia treatment might involve lifestyle changes, medications, or a combination of both. The team might recommend:

• Taking sleeping medications
• Taking hormones
• Participating in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Avoiding nighttime electronic use
• Avoiding naps during the day
• Avoiding stimulants like caffeine and nicotine
• Avoiding alcohol, which can disrupt your sleep
• Changing your diet

If you’re unable to improve your sleep with basic treatments and lifestyle changes like these, Weingrow Wellness & Medical Center can make a same-day referral to a sleep specialist.

If you’re ready to get better quality sleep every night, call Weingrow Wellness & Medical Center or book an appointment online today.