Insomnia Specialist

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. You might struggle to fall asleep, wake up frequently throughout the night, or awaken much earlier than you need to in the morning.

Most people experience acute insomnia occasionally, usually because of a stressful event in your life like an important exam or getting bad news. Acute insomnia usually resolves reasonably quickly without specialized treatment. 

However, if your sleep is disrupted for more than three nights a week for three months or more, your insomnia is chronic. Many factors contribute to chronic insomnia, including:

• Sleep apnea
• Restless legs syndrome 
• Stress 
• Unhealthy sleep habits
• Shift work 
• Eating too late at night or having too much caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol
• Medical conditions like acid reflux, chronic pain, or a hyperactive thyroid
• Mental health conditions like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder
• Medications, such as for allergies and colds
  
  

Chronic insomnia can interfere with your overall health and quality of life. It can interfere with your mood, make you irritable, and decrease your performance at work or school. 

Insomnia can negatively impact your mental health and increase your risk of health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease. 

When should I talk to a doctor about insomnia?

If you have frequent sleepless nights and your insomnia makes it difficult for you to function normally during the day, contact Academy Diagnostics. 

The team of board-certified sleep specialists offers comprehensive consultations and sleep assessments to identify the cause of your insomnia and provide personalized treatment.

How is insomnia diagnosed?

The team at Academy Diagnostics begins with a physical exam to check for signs of health conditions that could interfere with your sleep. 

They also review your medical history, lifestyle, and sleep habits. Your physician asks about your bedtime routines, perceived daytime sleepiness, and other sleep-related questions. 

The team also offers at-home and in-clinic sleep studies to assess your sleep and diagnose the condition causing your insomnia. Depending on your symptoms, your physician might recommend:

• Polysomnogram
• Multiple sleep latency test
• Maintenance of wakefulness test
  
  

They might also order an electroencephalogram (EEG) to assess your brain activity.

How is insomnia treated?

Treatment for insomnia depends on the condition causing it. For example, if you have sleep apnea, your doctor might recommend a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or an oral appliance. They might also recommend lifestyle modifications, light therapy, or medication to help you sleep.

If you have insomnia, call Academy Diagnostics or make an appointment online today.