Why Can't I Sleep?

Why can't I sleep?

Almost everyone has problems sleeping from time to time. But if you have trouble sleeping on a regular basis, you should let your doctor know, or contact a sleep center. You may have a sleep disorder.

A sleep center would be able to identity and treat the cause of your sleep problems, so you can get back to a good night's sleep.

Lack of sleep is a serious condition that shouldn't be taken lightly. It has been linked to several long-term health conditions and can raise the risk of being involved in an accident.

To improve sleep, try these suggestions from the CDC:

Adults

1. Go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning.
2. Make sure your bedroom is a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot or too cold.
3. Make sure your bed is comfortable and use it only for sleeping and not for other activities, such as reading, watching TV, or listening to music. Remove all TVs, computers, and other 'gadgets' from the bedroom.
4. Physical activity may help promote sleep, but not within a few hours of bedtime.
5. Avoid large meals before bedtime.

Adolescents/Young Adults

1. Avoid caffeinated drinks after lunch.
2. Avoid bright light in the evening.
3. Avoid arousing activities around bedtime (e.g., heavy study, text messaging, getting into prolonged conversations).
4. Expose yourself to bright light upon awakening in the morning.
5. While sleeping in on weekends is permissible, it should not be more than 2-3 hours past your usual wake time, to avoid disrupting your circadian rhythm governing sleepiness and wakefulness.
6. Avoid pulling an "all-nighter" to study.

New Studies Link More Health Problems with Insomnia

A lack of sleep has been associated with many health issues, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, poor immune system function, and impaired judgment. Two recent studies suggest adding two more items to the list. The first study links insomnia with an increased risk of high blood pressure. The second study links insomnia with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors . (Source: CNN)

Lack of sleep is a serious issue and should be discussed with a doctor. He may suggest a sleep study in order to diagnose and treat a sleep condition.

Need help locating a sleep clinic? Use our sleep clinic locator to find a sleep clinic near you. We also provide some helpful tips on selecting a sleep center.

Have you had an experience with a sleep clinic? Please share your experience. Rate your sleep clinic today. Your feedback will help others with their sleep clinic decision.

Check out other articles about sleep related issues:
Should You Use a Sick Day for Lack of Sleep
What to Expect During a Sleep Study
Helpful Resources for Sleep Disorders

*Information on WheretoFindCare.com is for informational purposes only. Always seek medical advice from your physican if you think you have a sleep disorder.

Should you use a Sick Day for Lack of Sleep?

You had trouble sleeping last night. The reason for lack of sleep can vary. Working long hours, an addiction to Facebook, or maybe a sleep disorder like insomnia. Now you're at office, fighting to keep your eyes open while reading your email. Perhaps you get up and walk around for awhile. Perhaps you go to the coffee machine or the vending machine for a caffeine fix. You're wishing you could be at home sleeping. But lack of sleep just doesn't seem like a good enough reason to miss work. The truth is lack of sleep is a very serious issue.

Lack of sleep, especially on a regular basis has been linked to long-term health conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. (Source: Healthy Sleep). You also triple your chances of being in an auto crash when driving while drowsy. (Source: USA Weekend)

Additionally, lack of sleep has been linked to decreased productivity and errors in the workplace. A side effect of lack of sleep is that you just don't notice the affects of sleep deprivation, and sleep deprivation impairs your judgement. (Source: Healthy Sleep)

There are some online resources aimed at helping you get the sleep you need. The Mayo Clinic has a sleep guideline that describes how much sleep a person needs. They also offer tips on how to get better sleep. If you feel you have a sleep disorder, you should speak to your physican or see a sleep specialist. A sleep specialist will conduct a Sleep Study in order to diagnose your disorder. Once the sleep study is conducted, the specialist can offer treatments so you can achieve better sleep.

Do you need help locating a sleep center or sleep specialist? Use WhereToFindCare.com's Sleep Center Finder tool to locate a sleep center near you.

If you have been to a sleep center, share your experience by rating the Sleep Center. Your input will help others make their decision on which sleep center they should select.


*Information on WheretoFindCare.com is for informational purposes only. Always seek medical advice from your physican if you think you have a sleep disorder.

What to Expect during a Sleep Study

Having trouble sleeping? Read on...

Many sleep disorders have similar symptoms so it’s important to see a sleep specialist to determine the root cause of your sleep issue and get properly diagnosed. To find the root cause, sleep centers perform a sleep study.

So how do you prepare for a sleep study? What can you expect to happen? I found a couple of good links which describe the process:

TalkAboutSleep.com: View a Sleep Study
This resource walks you through the sleep study process step by step, describes medical equipment used, describes items you should bring along to the study, and provides pictures.

Havard School of Medicine, Division of Sleep Medicine: What to Expect from a Sleep Evaluation
This is an excellent video which describes the entire process, from the initial consultation with the sleep specialist, to the sleep study, and ends with the resolution and treatment of the sleep disorder.

Looking for a sleep center or sleep specialist? Use WhereToFindCare.com's Sleep Center Finder tool to locate a sleep center near you.

If you have been to a sleep center, share your experience by rating the Sleep Center. Your input will help others make their decision on which sleep center they should select.


*Information on WheretoFindCare.com is for informational purposes only. Always seek medical advice from your physican if you think you have a sleep disorder.

Helpful Resources for Sleep Disorders

Want to learn more about sleep disorders? Check out these links:

1. University of Michigan Health System: Children's Sleep Problems
This resource discusses common sleep problems for children of all ages, provides a chart to determine how much sleep a child needs, gives tips on developing good sleeping habits, and much more.

2. US Department of Public Health and Human Services: Sleep Starter
This resource is an excellent site for both children's and parents. It provides fun games for children to learn more about sleep. It also provides parents with tips and advice on children's sleep issues.

3. Mayo Clinic: Sleep Center
This resource gives details about sleeping disorders and provides advice on solving them. Some tips on there include: fatigue and the swing shift, children's sleep, foods to help you sleep, a guideline for how much sleep you need and much more.

4. University of Maryland Medical Center: Sleep Disorders Center
This resource has sleep related tests to help you determine if you are sleep deprived or are at risk for sleep apnea.

5. Havard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine: Healthy Sleep
This resource gives details on how sleep disorders affect our long term health.

6. Havard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine: Healthy Sleep Video Clip
This video discusses how to talk to your doctor about your sleep issues.

Looking for a sleep center or sleep specialist? Use WhereToFindCare.com's Sleep Center Finder tool to locate a sleep center near you.

If you have been to a sleep center, share your experience by rating the Sleep Center. Your input will help others make their decision on which sleep center they should select.


*Information on WheretoFindCare.com is for informational purposes only. Always seek medical advice from your physican if you think you have a sleep disorder.