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Alternative names Return to top
Sleep issues; Difficulty falling asleepInformation Return to top
Although most causes of insomnia are harmless and can be addressed with a few simple changes, many medical conditions can also cause insomnia. Be sure to talk with your health care provider if you:
See sleep disorders and insomnia.
Here are some simple tips to get a better night's sleep:
Do something relaxing just before bedtime (reading or television) so that you don't dwell on worrisome issues. If you can't fall asleep within 30 minutes, get up and move to another room and engage in a quiet activity until you feel sleepy.
One method of preventing worries from keeping you awake is to keep a journal before going to bed. List all issues that worry you. By this method you transfer your worries from your thoughts to paper, leaving your mind quieter and more ready to fall asleep. See sleep disorders.
Caffeinated beverages consumed anytime after 3 p.m. can affect some people's ability to fall asleep. In addition, drinking alcoholic beverages before bedtime can hurt the quality of your sleep.
HOW MUCH SLEEP IS ENOUGH?
While 8 hours a night is recommended for most people, children need more and older people do fine with less. The quality of sleep is as important as the quantity of sleep in determining how well-rested you will feel the next day. See sleep disorders and sleep disorders in the elderly.
Update Date: 4/22/2003 Updated by: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |