Specialties & Services

Insomnia

Insomnia, the term for having trouble sleeping at night, is one of the most common sleep complaints.

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Why choose us for insomnia care?

 About one in three adults has bouts of insomnia that last a few days at a time. This is acute insomnia. But one in 10 adults suffers ongoing difficulty sleeping, known as chronic insomnia. There are many different definitions for chronic insomnia, however it’s commonly accepted that insomnia occurs more than three nights a week for at least three months.

Saint Luke’s Sleep Disorders Program is the premier provider of sleep-related diagnostic and therapeutic services. We offer a network of seven sleep centers located throughout the metro and region.

Our doctors and staff specialize in sleep medicine, psychiatry, neurology, and respiratory care—providing advanced treatment for 87 known sleep disorders.

Correctly identifying suspected sleep disorders such as insomnia may require an overnight in-lab sleep study at one of our sleep centers. During a sleep study, our team performs a number of tests as you sleep to measure specific sleep characteristics, such as breathing, wakefulness, and restlessness.

What is insomnia?

You may sometimes have a hard time falling asleep. You may also wake up at night and then can't go back to sleep. This is normal. But if it happens often enough to affect your daily activities, you may have insomnia.

What causes insomnia?

Some common causes of insomnia are:

  • Health problems. These may be things such as pain, depression, medicine side effects, or trouble breathing.

  • Circadian rhythm disorder. This is a shift in the body’s normal 24-hour activity cycle.

  • Lifestyle factors. These can include a changing sleep schedule or lack of exercise. Too much caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol can also be a cause.

  • Sleep settings. This includes things such as a poor mattress, noise, or a room that’s too hot or too cold.

  • Stress. You may be stressed about problems at work, money worries, or family events.

Talk with your doctor

Patient talking to doctor.

Tell your doctor about your sleeping problems. Try to keep a daily sleep diary for a couple of weeks. Write down the time you go to bed and the time you wake up. Also write down how you feel during the day and anything that seems to affect your sleep. If you drink caffeine or alcohol, note when you drink and how much you drink. Include any medicines you use, including over-the-counter medicines and herbs. Your doctor can review your diary and work with you to create a treatment plan. You may need to learn good sleeping habits. You may also need to make some lifestyle changes. Any health problems you have may need to be treated first.

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