6 Things You Didn’t Know About Insomnia
Untreated insomnia can be a serious issue. Here's what you should know about this chronic sleep buster.
By Amanda MacMillan, Life by DailyBurn
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 characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Untreated insomnia can be a dangerous issue, too, says Steven Feinsilver, M.D., director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Even if you’re 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 probably not a pill!) But before you make an appointment, here’s what you should know about insomnia. Continue Here
