Can individuals with insomnia find various ways to reduce its effects, such as a full night’s rest and promoting healthy sleep habits?
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Insomnia
Many people have often struggled to get a full night’s sleep occasionally, as environmental factors can keep them from falling asleep, making them tired throughout the day. In most cases, many individuals sometimes suffer from a chronic condition known as insomnia. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder, whether short-term or chronic, and it can negatively impact a person’s ability to sleep and stay asleep. (Dopheide, 2020) Insomnia can be in two forms: primary and secondary. Primary insomnia is a fairly common condition that can be resolved without treatment, while secondary insomnia is due to medication side effects or neurological issues that are causing sleep issues. Additionally, insomnia can be developed through various environmental factors like genetic variants, early life stress, major life events, and brain functions and structures that can cause individuals to be vulnerable and have insomnia. (Van Someren, 2021) We associate with certified medical providers who inform our patients of the effects of insomnia that can affect the body when they are not getting enough sleep. While asking important questions to our associated medical providers, we advise patients to incorporate healthy sleeping habits into their treatment plan to reduce insomnia and get proper sleep. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., envisions this information as an academic service. Disclaimer.
How It Affects The Body
So, how does insomnia affect the body and a person’s daily routine? Well, when environmental factors start to impact a person, it can cause overlapping risk profiles in the body that can develop into mental disorders like depression. There is a bi-directional relationship between insomnia and depression, as it can cause sleep alterations that can affect the nervous system and develop into chronic conditions. (Riemann et al., 2020) Some of the symptoms that insomnia can affect the body include: (Naha et al., 2024)
- Fatigue
- Memory impairment
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- PTSD
- Daytime napping
However, there are ways to manage insomnia and reduce the co-morbidities.
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Ways To Manage Insomnia
When managing and treating insomnia, many people must recognize the many environmental factors that can lead to its development. Since insomnia is linked with environmental factors, many people start making small routine changes to mitigate its effects. Many people can start by identifying the disorder and other co-morbidities contributing to its development. (Waterman & Selsick, 2023) This, in turn, helps doctors develop a customized treatment plan to manage their insomnia.
Sleep Habits
One of the ways many people deal with insomnia can begin with changing their sleep habits to help reduce the environmental factors affecting their sleep quality. Some of the changes include:
- Sleeping on a comfortable mattress
- Reduce screen time by an hour before bed
- Maintain a regular sleep and waking schedule
- Make sure the bedroom is dark, cool, and has minimal noise
Incorporating these small changes in sleeping habits can help reduce the stressors contributing to insomnia.
Non-Surgical Treatments
Another way for individuals to manage their insomnia is by incorporating non-surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatments like mindfulness meditation, chiropractic care, and acupuncture can help many individuals calm the mind and body by combining deep breathing exercises. (Chan et al., 2021) At the same time, the body and muscles can begin to relax and even help stretch out tense muscles that are affected by insomnia. Many people can utilize non-surgical treatments as part of their routine to live healthy lives and have the best quality of sleep they deserve.
References
Chan, N. Y., Chan, J. W. Y., Li, S. X., & Wing, Y. K. (2021). Non-pharmacological Approaches for Management of Insomnia. Neurotherapeutics, 18(1), 32-43. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-021-01029-2
Dopheide, J. A. (2020). Insomnia overview: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and monitoring, and nonpharmacologic therapy. Am J Manag Care, 26(4 Suppl), S76-S84. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2020.42769
Naha, S., Sivaraman, M., & Sahota, P. (2024). Insomnia: A Current Review. Mo Med, 121(1), 44-51. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38404423
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10887463/pdf/ms121_p0044.pdf
Riemann, D., Krone, L. B., Wulff, K., & Nissen, C. (2020). Sleep, insomnia, and depression. Neuropsychopharmacology, 45(1), 74-89. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0411-y
Van Someren, E. J. W. (2021). Brain mechanisms of insomnia: new perspectives on causes and consequences. Physiol Rev, 101(3), 995-1046. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00046.2019
Waterman, L., & Selsick, H. (2023). Insomnia and its treatment should be given more importance. Br J Gen Pract, 73(733), 344-345. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp23X734421
