One out of every three people in the world has symptoms of sleep maintenance insomnia yet only about a tenth of them ever see a doctor. It is usually caused by stress and basic medical conditions. It is characterized by inability to fall asleep, waking up often while sleeping, not getting enough hours of sleep, and disorderly sleep patterns. Its symptoms include fatigue, shortened attention span, drowsiness, and muscle pain.

Smokers are more likely to have sleep maintenance insomnia as do those with high daily caffeine intake. In order to avoid the types of symptoms associated with this type of insomnia, there are a few commonly-advised lifestyle recommendations. Do not drink coffee, tea and other stimulating beverages in the later hours of the day especially before you are about to sleep. Caffeinated sodas like Coke and Pepsi should also be avoided. Most people who suffer from sleep related disorders try taking over the counter sleeping pills; however, these are not a very good option and are best avoided. Alcohol – even though it is considered a depressant – can also be the cause of sleep maintenance apnea and hence, should be avoided.

Deep breathing exercises and meditation can immensely help sleep maintenance insomnia patients. Aromatherapy is a new concept in this domain, but has proven to be quite successful. These techniques, or a combination of them, can help you sleep better. Stick to a regular sleeping schedule, which means you should go to bed at the same time every day, even on weekends. Make sure your bed is comfortable. Try to remove any distractions from your bedroom, like sources of unwanted light and noise.

Medicines are available for treating the disorder but you should take these only in consultation with your doctor. Some simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in helping you with the disorder. It is a good idea to avoid reading or watching television or playing video games before going to bed. Physical exercises, especially yoga and swimming, help the body normalize its sleeping patterns. A warm bath and soft relaxing music before bedtime can help you enhance the quality of your sleep. Soothing candles in the room can also set the right atmosphere for a good night’s sleep.

Remember that all sleeping pills have side effects. Instead of turning to these over the counter sleep aids, you should focus on treating your sleep maintenance insomnia is a holistic way. Relaxation exercises and therapies are the best kind of treatment but medication should be resorted to only in extreme cases. You must always consult your doctor for medical treatment. Self-medication for sleep maintenance insomnia can often do more harm than good.

Technorati Tags: anxiety sleep disorder, sleep apnea death, sleep apnea testing, sleep deprivation symptoms, sleep disorder quiz, sleep disorder statistics, sleep maintenance insomnia, sleep paralysis disorder

Tags: anxiety sleep disorder, sleep apnea death, sleep apnea testing, sleep deprivation symptoms, sleep disorder quiz, sleep disorder statistics, sleep maintenance insomnia, sleep paralysis disorder

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 9:33 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.