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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Are you familiar with the feeling of the night turning into a grueling struggle for every sleepy moment? When you look at the ceiling for hours, and thoughts like a swarm of bees spin in your head? If so, you may have experienced insomnia, medically called “Sleep disorder” –, which can seriously affect quality of life.
Many are looking for an effective remedy for insomnia, using folk and evidence-based methods. But without understanding what the real cause of insomnia is –, these efforts can be in vain. After all, often the root of the problem lies precisely in the functioning of our nervous system. So let's consider together with experienced specialists of the Daily Medical medical center what sleep disturbance is, what are the causes of it and how to fight insomnia correctly.
What is insomnia and how to recognize it
Insomnia, or insomnia –, is a condition in which a person experiences difficulties with falling asleep, maintaining sleep or its low quality, which leads to daytime disturbances: fatigue, decreased concentration, irritability. It can be short-term (several days or weeks) or chronic (over a month). And the main signs of insomnia are:
- difficulty falling asleep (over 30 minutes).
- frequent awakenings at night or early awakening without the possibility of falling asleep again.
- feeling unwell after sleep, feeling like you haven't had a sleep.
- daytime sleepiness, fatigue, apathy, memory and attention impairment.
- increased irritability, anxiety or depressed mood.
If you notice these symptoms and they affect your daily life, you should not just look on the Internet for something to take for insomnia, but seek professional help. Don't know which doctor treats insomnia? The very first step in the treatment of insomnia is consultation with a neurologist .
Neurological causes of insomnia
Neurology plays a key role in understanding and treating insomnia, as sleep – is a complex brain-controlled neurophysiological process. And among the main neurological causes of insomnia:
- Central nervous system disorders – depression, anxiety, bipolar or obsessive–compulsive disorders. These conditions disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) that regulate sleep and vigor cycles.
- Restless legs syndrome – an irresistible desire to move the legs, accompanied by unpleasant sensations (burning, tingling), which increases at rest, especially at night. This makes it much more difficult to fall asleep and maintain sleep.
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – is a disorder in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep due to temporary airway obstruction. Each such interruption leads to a short-term awakening, which a person may not even remember, but it disrupts the sleep architecture.
- Chronic pain – neuropathic pain, migraine, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain syndromes can prevent falling asleep and cause frequent awakenings.
- Neurodegenerative diseases – Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases and other conditions that directly affect the brain often lead to sleep disturbances, including insomnia.
- Violation of circadian rhythms – changes in the body's internal "clock" due to night work, frequent changes in time zones or improper daily routine can lead to sleep dysregulation.
Understanding these causes is critical to finding an effective solution to how to fall asleep when insomnia, because self-medication can not only be ineffective, but also harmful.
How insomnia is diagnosed in neurology
Diagnosis of insomnia from a neurological point of view requires a comprehensive approach. In the Daily Medical medical center, highly qualified specialists use modern methods of diagnosing insomnia, in particular:
- Detailed history. A –neurologist collects information about your sleep pattern, medical history, lifestyle, medication, and psycho-emotional state.
- Neurological examination. Assessment of nervous system functions, reflexes, sensitivity.
- Laboratory studies. Blood tests to rule out hormonal disorders, vitamin deficiency or other conditions that may affect sleep.
- Polysomnography. "Gold standard" for diagnosis of sleep disorders. This is a night study during which various parameters are recorded: brain activity (EEG), eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen level. Allows you to detect sleep apnea, movement disorders in sleep and other disorders.
- Actigraphy: Monitoring activity and sleep with a special device that the patient wears on the wrist for several days or weeks.
- Consultations of related specialists. If necessary, consultation of a somnologist, psychiatrist, endocrinologist.
This careful approach allows you to accurately determine the causes of insomnia in your particular case and choose the most effective strategy.
When should you consult a neurologist
You should consult a neuropathologist if you have already tried general tips for fighting insomnia and they have not brought the desired result, or if insomnia is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- constant daytime sleepiness;
- loud snoring or sleep apnea;
- unpleasant sensations in the lower limbs that prevent you from falling asleep;
- periodic movements of the limbs during sleep;
- depression, anxiety disorder or other mental problems causing insomnia.
Do not postpone the visit, because self-medication can not only be ineffective, but also lead to deterioration of the condition. A qualified consultation with a neurologist at Daily Medical will help you find the real cause of insomnia and the way to healthy sleep. Make an appointment – take the first step towards your full rest!
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