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insomnia

Many people experience occasional sleeplessness. If you have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep three or more nights a week for more than three months, help is available.

Insomnia can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, anxiety, poor sleep habits, the use of alcohol, caffeine or nicotine, or underlying health conditions. Chronic insomnia can cause other health problems, raising the risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The team of board-certified physicians at Pulmonary Consultants of San Antonio include sleep disorder specialists who treat patients with both short-term and chronic insomnia.

Click here to request an appointment or call us at 210-692-0361.

Questions & Answers

What is insomnia?

Insomnia makes it difficult to get a restful night’s sleep. The condition affects everyone differently. Some people with insomnia struggle to doze off; others wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep.

Regardless of the underlying cause, it’s important to meet with a qualified physician if you regularly feel tired or have trouble sleeping.

What are the symptoms of insomnia?

Symptoms of insomnia include:

  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Waking up during the night
  • Waking up too early
  • Feeling unrested after a night of sleep
  • Daytime tiredness or fatigue
  • Irritability, depression, or anxiety
  • Increased accidents or errors

If you have insomnia, you might also find yourself spending most of your free time worrying about sleep.

What are the types of insomnia?

The team at Pulmonary Consultants of San Antonio treats both types of insomnia:

Acute insomnia
Acute insomnia lasts several days or weeks. Almost everyone experiences this type of insomnia at one point or another.

Chronic insomnia
Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or longer. This type of insomnia can occur due to poor sleep hygiene or as a result of an underlying medical condition.

What causes insomnia?

Insomnia occurs for various reasons, including:

  • Stress
  • Busy work or travel schedules
  • Poor sleep habits
  • Eating too much before bed
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Prescription medication
  • The natural aging process

You might also experience insomnia if you use stimulants or depressants like caffeine, alcohol, or nicotine.

How is insomnia diagnosed?

To diagnose insomnia, your Pulmonary Consultants of San Antonio provider reviews your health history and asks about your symptoms, including when they first started and if they improve when you exercise or do other physical activity.

Next, they conduct a physical exam, order blood tests, and have you fill out a questionnaire about your sleep habits. Your provider might also ask you to keep a sleep diary for a couple of weeks. That way, you can monitor what you do during the day and when you wake up in the middle of the night.

If these measures aren’t enough to make a diagnosis, your provider might have you do an at-home sleep study. A sleep study monitors your heart and respiratory rate during sleep to rule out other potential issues like sleep apnea.

How is insomnia treated?

The team at Pulmonary Consultants at San Antonio offers various treatments for insomnia. Depending on the underlying cause and the intensity of your symptoms, they might recommend:

  • Stimulus and control therapy
  • Relaxation techniques (like meditation)
  • Sleep restriction (avoiding daytime naps)
  • Light therapy
  • Prescription medication
  • Over-the-counter sleep aids

You might also benefit from healthy lifestyle changes like exercising several times a week, avoiding caffeine, and eating a balanced, nutritious diet.

GET IN TOUCH
210-692-0361
10007 Huebner Road, Bldg 4
San Antonio, TX 78240
FAX: 210-692-0151

OPENING HOURS
Monday: 8am-4:30pm
Tuesday: 8am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 8am-4:30pm
Thursday: 8am-4:30pm
Friday: 8am-4:30pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed