6 Things You Didn’t Know About Insomnia and How to Treat It
Waking up on the right side of the bed can be tough…if you only fell asleep 30 minutes ago. We all know what it feels like to toss and turn throughout the night but for nearly 10 percent of Americans, insomnia is a chronic problem — lasting a month or longer, and characterised by difficulty falling or staying asleep. Untreated insomnia can be a dangerous issue too, says Steven Feinsilver, M.D., director of the Centre for Sleep Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Even if you are not nodding off behind the wheel, a consistent lack of sleep can still contribute to headaches, back pain, irritability, lowered immunity and other health problems, he says. “People with poor sleep quality have a higher risk of everything from depression to high blood pressure to early death.” That doesn’t mean that sleepless sufferers are doomed. Talking to your doctor can help you determine the root cause of your disorder and the best treatment to get you back on schedule. (Hint: It’s probab...