Sleep disorders may hinder your ability to get quality and restful sleep at night. This may lead to daytime fatigue and dysfunction that interrupt your daily activities. Neurologists provide techniques and practices to help you benefit from restful sleep and achieve a balanced sleep schedule. Here are some effective treatments for sleeplessness:
1. Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for insomnia can help you regulate thoughts and behaviors that keep you awake for an extended amount of time. The mental component of CBT teaches you how to learn and modify beliefs that influence your sleep. It may include helping you find ways to break the cycle of feeling anxiety about not getting enough sleep since increased stress can keep you awake through the night.
2. Medication
Prescription sleeping medications can complement behavioral treatment and help you get much-needed sleep. They might help you fall asleep faster or stay asleep longer. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication, including Zalepon, that contains non-benzodiazepine properties that provide benefits from short-term use. These medications may boost the melatonin in the brain to allow you to sleep better.
3. Lifestyle Changes
Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps regulate your body’s internal clock with a consistent sleep schedule. Avoid the use of screens before bed to reduce eye strain that likely causes the brain to feel weary. Choose warm blankets for your bedroom and have your room be as dark as possible in your sleeping environment. Opt for earplugs or white noise to reduce distractions if you are living in a loud environment.
4. Medical Devices for Sleep Apnea
The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine uses a tube and mask to deliver a constant stream of air to keep your airway open. This ongoing airflow reduces apneic episodes by preventing the airway from collapsing, allowing you to breathe normally in your sleep. This machine should improve your sleep quality and reduce daytime fatigue by restoring proper sleep patterns.
An automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) machine takes air through a filter, utilizing a motor to blow air with different pressure levels. The APAP device uses advanced sensors to detect respiratory episodes and automatically increase the air pressure. After your breathing has normalized, the APAP machine reduces the air pressure to an appropriate amount.
5. Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies range from nutrition and exercise to mental conditioning using herbal medicine, acupuncture, aroma therapy, and hypnosis. Acupuncture is a treatment in which a practitioner inserts very thin needles into specific points on the skin. This can increase the presence of y-amino butyric acid for sleep enhancement.
Muscle relaxation and biofeedback are strategies that relax the muscles to negate the possible tension that might disrupt sleep. Meditation may help you control your intrusive thoughts to provide effective treatment for sleep disorders such as insomnia.
Get Reliable Treatment for Sleep Disorders
A sleep specialist can conduct tests like nap studies, polysomnograms, and home sleep studies to determine what treatment options should improve your sleeping patterns. Therapies and medication are used in individualized plans to target receptors in your brain that impair sleep. Consult a healthcare provider today to find a treatment to help you sleep better.
