For more than 20 years, Dr. Andrew Johnson has served as a Hospitalist and Family Physician in Brampton, Ontario. Dr. Andrew Johnson of Brampton offers consultation and treatment for a variety of issues, including difficulty sleeping.
A person may have difficulty sleeping for a variety of reasons. Some, such as the pain from a medical condition or the effects of a mental illness such as depression or anxiety, require treatment of the underlying condition before the patient can return to normal slumber patterns. In some cases, however, a patient can improve his or her sleep habits with a few lifestyle changes.
Both caffeine and alcohol, for example, can interrupt the natural pattern of falling or staying asleep. Many find it tempting to drink alcohol before bed, as it can speed the process of falling asleep, but poor quality sleep often follows.
Others have trouble sleeping because of stress, as anxious thoughts can arise in the dark and quiet of bedtime. If the patient's sleeping space is cluttered, this can exacerbate the pre-sleep anxiety and cause the patient to feel less relaxed.
The bedroom may also be less of a restful space if it is too bright. Even the minimal lights of digital clocks and other personal technology may interfere with signals to the body that it is time to sleep. The glow of outdoor lights can have a similar effect, as can the presence of significantly more or less background noise as compared to the patient's normal environment.
Of course, for some, difficulty sleeping is related to getting older. Approximately half of adults who are 65 years of age or older report sleep disturbances, although the root cause for some of these cases may be side effects from medication. Regardless of a patient's age, it is best to consult with a physician about what may be interfering with normal sleep.
