Sleep Aids and Therapy

Sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea can affect the quality of rest you get, leading to poor overall health and a lack of energy. Sleep therapy and studies, medications, and sleep apnea monitoring devices can help improve the quality of a patient’s sleep, which in turn can improve overall health and quality of life, but may not be covered by insurance.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for innsomnia, sometimes called CBT-I, is an effective treatment for sleeping disorders, and is usually recommended as the first line of defence. During CBT-I treatment, your sleep therapist may have you keep a sleep journal, and pratice different techniques such as stimulus control therapy, sleep restriction, or relaxation training, among other techniques. Sleep medications may also be prescribed, but are generally used as a short-term treatment.

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleeping disorder in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops during sleep. Evaluation for sleep apnea will sometimes involve overnight monitoring at a sleep center where you are hooked up to equipment which monitors heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movement and blood oxygen levels as you sleep. More simplified home tests may also be used. Treatment for sleep apnea may include use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which delivers air pressure through a mask as you sleep. Oral appliances, supplemental oxygen, or treatment for associated medical problems may also be used, as well as surgeries including tissue removal or shrinkage, jaw repositioning, implants, nerve stimulation, or in extreme cases, creating a new air passageway.