Can Insomnia Be a Sign of an Underlying Health Problem?

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder, affecting about 35% of American adults. For some, the disorder may be temporary, but insomnia can warn of underlying health issues.

At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep, we specialize in diagnosing and treating insomnia and other chronic sleep disorders. Sleep specialists Ashok Tyagi, DO, CPE, and Himanshi Chandarana, MD, can also address several medical issues associated with insomnia and poor-quality sleep.

Understanding insomnia

Insomnia describes an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night. You might frequently wake up too early and not be able to fall back asleep to get restorative rest.

Side effects of insomnia can include:

• Irritability
• Persistent fatigue
• Daytime sleepiness
• Cognitive dysfunction

Those who struggle with chronic insomnia might also experience mental health issues like anxiety or depression because of the difficulties they have with sleep.

Additionally, those who are sleep-deprived are at increased risk of injuries from things like falls or car accidents. If you take over-the-counter or prescription sleep medications or misuse drugs or alcohol, your risk of addiction and related complications increases.

For these reasons, it’s crucial to address insomnia in the earliest stages. A prompt diagnosis can confirm or rule out serious medical issues that affect your long-term wellness.

Medical conditions that contribute to insomnia

One of the leading contributors to insomnia is chronic pain from injuries, neurological disorders such as neuropathy (nerve damage), and degenerative diseases like arthritis.

Medical conditions that can trigger insomnia and other sleep disorders also include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Restless leg syndrome

For those with mental, emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders, insomnia may occur often. For instance, people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism may experience episodes of hyperarousal that prevent good quality sleep.

We offer in-lab sleep studies to evaluate your vital signs and movements while you sleep. Our physicians can also order other diagnostic tests to identify the underlying cause of your sleepless nights.

Creating the best treatment plan for insomnia

At Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep, we personalize treatment plans to improve sleep quality and reduce daytime sleepiness and chronic fatigue.

Several lifestyle changes can improve your sleep habits, such as reducing your use of electronics throughout the day and unplugging them at least two hours before bedtime.

You might also benefit from the short-term use of medications that support a good night’s sleep. Our providers may refer you to a therapist for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) so you can better manage stress, anxiety, and depression.

Along with your sleep treatment, we can collaborate with your primary care physician or other medical specialists on a care plan to address the cause of insomnia. Our goal is to provide safe, effective therapies that improve your sleep now and over the long term.

Call Stat Care Pulmonary and Sleep in St. Petersburg, Florida, today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for insomnia.