Do you have a problem falling asleep no matter how tired you are? Or do you wake up in the middle of the night after only slept for a few hours? Or do you struggle every night by tossing and turning? If one of more symptoms happen on you, it means you may have insomnia. Although sleep disorders include somnolence and insomnia. Nowadays Insomnia is a very common sleeping problem, it negatively affects your energy, mood and life during the day. If insomnia for long time, it will affect the health seriously.
Chronic insomnia can lead to dizziness, anxiety, depression, or even serious health problems, From clinical experience, I found some patients got stroke or bell's palsy after having insomnia for a long time. But don't be too nervous. By looking for the root cause and making simple changes to your lifestyle, sleeping environment or your diet, you can establish a great sleeping experience for yourself, prevent further problems before it happen.
What are the causes of insomnia?
Although insomnia is a common sleep problem, it is not a single sleep disorder. The causes of insomnia vary from person to person.
Emotions
Emotional problems such as stress, anxiety and depression are among the most common causes of insomnia by keeping your brain active at night. And difficulties in falling asleep may in turn reinforce these negative emotions. Stressful concerns about school, work, or family can lead to insomnia. In addition, experiences of stressful events such as applying for college, looking for a job, or even attending a party, are the main cause of insomnia.
Lifestyle
Irregular naps, irregular sleeping schedules, eating too much for dinner…… there are a lot of daily routines that may lead to insomnia.The list would even include watching cell phones before sleep and staying on the bed too often during daytime. Using sleeping pills or alcohol to help falling asleep will actually cause potential sleeping disorders in the future.
Other factors
Other factors include consumption of caffeine, certain medications, changing in sleep environment and other sleep-related disorder.
Sometimes, insomnia only lasts for a few days and disappears on its own, especially when insomnia is associated with obvious temporary causes, such as impending pressure, breakup or jet lag. Other times, insomnia is a long-term problem, which is often associated with a potential mental or physical problem.
Solutions to chronic insomnia:
According to National Sleep Foundation, some of the solutions include:
1. Some habits are so ingrained that you may ignore them as possible causes of insomnia. Or you never have a connection between drinking late at night and difficulty sleeping.
2. Two powerful "weapons" against insomnia are quiet, comfortable sleeping environment and relaxed body before going to bed. Both play important roles in improving sleep quality.
3. Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and in a comfortable temperature. Noise, light and a bedroom that is too hot or too cold, or an uncomfortable mattress or pillow can affect sleep. Try using soothing music or earplugs to block outside noise, open windows or fans to keep the room cool,and use blackout curtains or eye masks to block light. Try different levels of mattresses and pillows to give you the conditions you need for a comfortable night's sleep.
4. Adhere to regular sleep schedules. Get up at the same time every day, including weekends. Even if you feel tired at first, get up on time.This will help you resume a normal sleeping schedule.
5. Avoid all electronic devices at least one hour before going to bed, and choose other relaxing activities, such as reading books or listening to soft music.
6. Avoid irritation and stress before going to bed. Don’t have a major discussion or argument, or catch up with work.
7. Avoid taking naps. Taking naps during the day makes it harder to fall asleep at night. If you feel that you must take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes before 3 pm (or it will be too close to bedtime).
8. Do not drink anything for an hour before going to bed.
9. Eat early in the evening, and do not eat too heavily. Avoid spicy or acidic foods.
Get up when you can't fall asleep. Don't try to force yourself to fall asleep. Get out of bed and do some relaxing things like reading, drinking a glass of water or taking a shower. When you feel sleepy, go back to sleep.
In our clinic, we provide acupuncture and herb for insomnia and moxibustion treatments. In the course of our treatment of patients, we found that acupuncture and herb serves as a sharp tool for the sleeping disorders. Some patients even fall into sleep during the treatment. Certain points can make the body's meridians smooth, and make Qi and blood running smoothly. Some herbal medicines can help the patient to calm down and stabilize the mood.
In addition, moxibustion has a good effect on the treatment of sleep disorders, and some patients have achieved satisfactory results, prove that the quality of sleep can be greatly improved in a short period of time.
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