Insomnia

Understanding and helping with Insomnia

Do you find it hard or nearly impossible to sleep and remain asleep? Does sound sleep elude you even if you’re mentally and physically exhausted? If so, you may be suffering from insomnia, a common sleep disorder that makes it hard to sleep or remain asleep.

Adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Without a proper night’s sleep, you can’t function properly for the rest of the day. Extended bouts of sleeplessness or chronic insomnia also lead to other health concerns, such as obesity, high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression. If you need a diagnostic sleep study, Los Angeles has a location where patients are getting real help.

At Tower Sleep Medicine, we use cutting-edge sleep testing technologies to diagnose the root cause of your insomnia, following which we curate the ideal treatment plan to help you achieve sound sleep.

About Insomnia

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that prevents you from falling or staying asleep. It saps your energy and prevents you from functioning at your maximum capacity for the rest of the day. Insomnia can exist as a primary condition (not caused by other health concerns) or a secondary condition caused by asthma, arthritis, substance use, or other underlying sleep disorders.

Signs & Symptoms of Insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep at night.
Interrupted or restless sleep.
Waking up after a few short hours.
Constant exhaustion.
Daytime sleepiness.
Irritability and anxiety.
Inability to concentrate.

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Causes

Stressful life events.
Disruption of your body’s circadian rhythms.
Erratic work and travel hours.
Irregular bedtime schedules.
Poor sleeping habits.
Eating too much before sleep.
Inactive lifestyle.
Mid-day naps.
Underlying mental health disorders, like anxiety or depression.
Antidepressants or other prescription drugs.
Certain over-the-counter pain medications.
Underlying medical conditions, like cancer, heart disease, asthma, etc.
Underlying sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea.

Risk Factors

Women undergoing hormonal changes.
Menopause.
Pregnancy.
Men and women over 60.
Individuals with mental or physical health disorders.
Individuals under work or social stress.
Individuals with erratic schedules.

Long-Term Complications

Poor performance at school or work.
Slower impulses or reaction times.
Mental health problems, including depression.
Increased risk of high blood pressure.
Increased risk of heart disease.
Increased risk of accidents.

Diagnosis of Insomnia

During your initial consultation, your sleep specialist will run a series of examinations to narrow down the root cause of your sleeplessness or insomnia. The doctor may look for signs of underlying medical problems, run some blood tests, and discuss your bedtime habits. Following the consultation, the doctor may recommend home sleep testing or in-lab sleep study for an accurate diagnosis.

In-Lab Sleep Study

We recommend our in-lab sleep study in Los Angeles to finalize the diagnosis if there are some irregularities in the home sleep testing results. We have luxuriously-appointed diagnostic sleep chambers where you can sleep under our supervision. Our sleep technologist connects you to the necessary sensors, monitoring your brainwaves, heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, and limb movements.

Home Sleep Testing

We provide a portable electronic device and instruct you on how to wear it during sleep. The electronic device monitors your heart rate, limb movements, snoring, oxygen level, and other important factors. Our sleep specialists interpret the data to identify possible irregularities.

Treatments of Insomnia

After interpreting the sleep study results, our sleep specialists diagnose the root cause of your insomnia. Based on the diagnostic results, we discuss possible lifestyle changes and treatment options to help you reclaim a sound sleep. The treatment is individually curated to address your unique needs.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

CBT-i (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) is often the first line of treatment for insomnia because it doesn’t involve reliance on medications. CBT-i aims to identify the psychological root causes of insomnia to replace them with healthier beliefs and attitudes. The CBT-i may include various components, including sleep education, anxiety-reduction through stimulus control, sleep restriction and compression to minimize the amount of time you lie awake in bed, and relaxation techniques.

Sleep Medications

We only provide sleep medications if all behavioral therapies and treatments fail. Sleep medications should only be considered a last resort rather than the primary treatment. Depending on your individual sleep concerns and problems, the doctor may recommend Benzodiazepines, Nonbenzodiazepines, Melatonin agonists, Orexin receptor antagonists, or other over-the-counter medications. Find out more about Insomnia and how to treat it today!