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Located downtown Calgary.
Registered Acupuncturist.
Member of Alberta Association of
Traditional Chinese Medical Doctors.
Please pardon our Chinese English,
thank you! :)
              
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 Insomnia
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| The article is meant to provide general
information instead of diagnosis because each individual is different. For
specific assessment, please feel free to call 403-233-0498 to arrange an
appointment for assessment. |
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What
are the consequences of inadequate sleep?
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Different
stages of sleep.
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How
does the use of sleeping pills affect sleep?
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Causes
of insomnia.
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What
can I do to improve my sleep?
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Is
acupuncture beneficial for me?
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How
many sessions would I need? The cost? Insurance coverage?
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How
do I start?
Other
than auto-accidents, nowadays, researchers have made an association between
insomnia and other mental diseases, such as depression and anxiety. It not only
robs you from enjoying good relationships with friends and family members but
also decreases your performances and concentration at work place.
Healthy men deprived of even a single night's sleep have a 30 percent drop in
the activity of their immune system's tumor-fighting cells the next day.
Lack of sleep also results in reduced function in repairing worn-out tissue.
People who had inadequate sleep in a night were found to experience a surge of
high blood pressure when they wake up in the morning. In some cases, that surge
can lead to stroke or other heart problems.
Long-term
sleep deprivation may increase the severity of chronic diseases, such as high
blood pressure, chronic
fatigue, chronic stress, chronic pain, inflammation, reduced immunity and
diabetes… etc..
Sleep
occurs in a series of cycles, each lasting between sixty and ninety minutes. On
average, people have five or six sleep cycles during a normal nighttime sleep
session.
Each cycle has different stages namely stage 1, 2, 3, 4 and REM (Rapid Eyeball
Movement) stage. The stages are defined according to the types and intensity of
brain wave activity as measured by EEG tracings, and also by the ease with which
the sleeping person can be aroused. Each stage has its physiological functions.
Poor sleepers tend to spend less time in deep sleep, particularly Stage 4, as
well as less time in REM.
Sleeping
pills help us to fall asleep fast. However, most sleeping pills induce sleep by
depressing brain function as a whole. As a result, the quality of sleep produced
is different from normal sleep. Most healthy people spend about a quarter of
their total sleep time in REM sleep. When you take sleeping pills, REM can drop
to as little as a tenth of total sleep time in the beginning. As you continue to
take the pills for a few weeks, the proportion of REM will gradually return to
normal.
The proportion of deep sleep is also seriously affected by sleeping drugs. Some
people who take sleeping pills spend as little as five per cent of their total
sleep time in deep sleep.
Side effects & dependency also concerns patients.
Insomnia
can originate by a number of factors.
Mental health problems may contribute to insomnia include depression, anxiety,
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and learned insomnia.
Caffeine, nicotine and ingredients in several nonprescription drugs for weight
loss, asthma, and colds, can interfere with sleep. Smokers may take longer to
fall asleep than non-smokers. Life style factors such as use of alcohol, erratic
hours, sedentary behavior, activities in and around the bedroom, intolerance to
certain foods, eating excessively can all contribute to insomnia.
Many medical problems can disturb your sleep. Angina, asthma, bronchitis,
emphysema, allergies, congestion, coughing, indigestion, reflux, or ulcers,
bladder problems, arthritis, chronic pain conditions, headaches, epilepsy,
hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes and hypoglycemia, dementia,
Alzheimer's disease, sleep apnea, obesity, particularly if the obese patient
also has lung problems from chronic smoking or heart disease; and periodic leg
movements.
A significant number of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can
disturb sleep either by causing stimulant or withdrawal effects.
Environmental factors such as ventilation, humidity, noise, light, stale air or
an uncomfortable mattress can cause insomnia or reduce the quality of sleep,
even when they don't actually keep you awake.
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Some
common sense remedies may improve sleep.
Exercise daily in the late afternoon or early evening- but not before
bedtime. |
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Go
to bed only when you are sleepy. Get up at about the same time every
morning, no matter when you go to bed. |
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Do
not go to bed until you feel sleepy. |
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Have
a light snack or read for 10 minutes before you turn out the
light. |
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Set
an alarm clock and get out of bed at the same time every morning no matter
how you slept the night before. Once normal sleep patterns are
reestablished, most people find that they have no need for an alarm clock. |
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Avoid
alcohol and caffeine after 5 pm or 6 hours before bedtime. |
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Do
not read anything related to work just before going to bed. |
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Avoid
reading mysteries or other exciting books before going to sleep. You may
find it hard to put down. |
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Keep
your bedroom quiet and dark with adequate ventilation and humidity. |
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Reduce
activities, watching television or being on the Internet just before
bedtime. A quarter hour of quiet conversation, light reading, or soft music
may make a big difference. |
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Learn
to put worries out of your mind. |
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Spend
some time in bright sunlight each morning during the morning hours for at
least fifteen minutes to set the biological clocks. |
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Making
a break between daytime activities and the inactivity associated with night
helps to encourage sleep. Review the activities of the day and prepare a
plan for the following day. |
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Take
a warm bath before going to bed. |
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Sex
is a great aid to sleep if you have a willing partner. |
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A
bedtime massage can also help. |
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Don’t
go to bed angry. |
”Acupuncture
appears to be a useful treatment approach for a common clinical problem. …
This is an area in patient care where acupuncture could be a beneficial addition
to standard allopathic treatments.” Published on Medical
Acupuncture A
Journal For Physicians
by Judith R. Peterson, MD. (http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/aama_marf/journal/vol13_3/article4.html)
Using
acupuncture in treatment of insomnia has been recognized by the World Health
Organization (WHO). It has helped many patients with sleep disorders; it is
certainly a reasonable natural modality that has its potential to help. However,
“It works for many” doesn’t guaranty that it works for you. As for you,
there is only one way to find out…
As
mentioned before, there are many different causes for sleep disorder. Some cases
have better prognoses while the others don’t. We charge $60 (subject to change
without notice) per acupuncture session subject to change without notice. Please
call 403-233-0498 for current rate.
Alberta
Health Care does not cover acupuncture treatment. However, most of the group
insurance and company benefits cover acupuncture treatment. You may get
clarification from human resources department in your work place.
Call
403-233-0498 to get a consultation first. There is a $15 charge, subject to
change without notice, will be charged if you think it is beneficial to you and
decide to receive treatment from us.
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