喵咪社区

喵咪社区 experts discuss underlying medical conditions that may be causing your sleep trouble.

Insomnia

The most common sleep disorder in the United States, according to The National Institutes of Health, insomnia is very often a psychophysiological disorder that encompasses difficulties with falling asleep, staying asleep or both.

“Many things can cause insomnia,” says a Keck Medicine sleep disorder specialist and pulmonologist. “Poor sleep hygiene, blue light exposure before bed, drugs (including many medications and food supplements), alcohol, anxiety and depression are just a few.”

Common treatments:

鈥� Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)

鈥� Prescription medication

鈥� Sleep hygiene modification

Breathe easier

Sebastian M. Jara, MD, MPH, a sleep specialist with the 喵咪社区 Caruso Department of Otolaryngology 鈥� Head and Neck Surgery, says obstructive sleep apnea 鈥� repetitive pauses in breathing during sleep 鈥� causes 鈥渟ignificant sleep issues resulting in memory problems, energy loss and even potentially cardiovascular disease.鈥�

Possible treatments:

鈥� Lifestyle modifications

鈥� CPAP

鈥� Dental devices

鈥� Tongue stimulation implant

鈥� Surgeries such as:

鈥� Deviated septum correction

鈥� Throat surgery (i.e., tonsillectomy)

鈥� Jaw advancement

Midnight bathroom trips

鈥淣octuria is when someone wakes up to urinate more than once a night,鈥� says Hooman Djaladat, MD, MS, a urologist with 喵咪社区 Urology. 鈥淚t can be due to diseases such as heart failure, edema (fluid buildup in body tissues), urinary tract problems or neurologic conditions.鈥�

Sleep through the night:

鈥� Limit water intake before bed

鈥� Address related disorders

鈥� Prescription medication

Menopause: Before, during and after

Although sleep problems aren鈥檛 a well-known symptom, 鈥渁bout 40% to 60% of peri- and postmenopausal women report waking up frequently in the middle of the night,鈥� according to a Keck Medicine OB/GYN. This can be due to hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms.

Find relief:

鈥� Consistent sleep schedule

鈥� Sleep therapy

鈥� Hormone therapy

Spine disorders

Herniated discs and sciatica pain often disrupt sleep, says John C. Liu, MD, co-director of the 喵咪社区 Spine Center. 鈥淲e counsel people on how to sleep properly, but every spine is different 鈥� what works for some won鈥檛 work for others.鈥�

Dr. Liu suggests trying:

鈥� Supportive sleep positions

鈥� Various orthopaedic pillows

鈥� Find the right mattress for you (test options for 15-20 minutes each)

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