Best Doctors for Insomnia in Chennai

Types/Stages of Insomnia

Insomnia manifests in different ways, and it’s thus classified into various types:

• Acute Insomnia: This is short-term trouble with sleep lasting a few days to weeks. It is often triggered by stress, a traumatic event, or significant life changes.

• Chronic Insomnia: This is a long-term issue where poor sleep persists for three or more nights each week for over three months.

• Onset Insomnia: This is characterised by difficulty initiating sleep. It can be caused by anxiety, stress, or an irregular sleep schedule.

• Maintenance Insomnia: Individuals with this type have trouble remaining asleep or consistently wake up too early.

• Behavioural Insomnia of Childhood: This occurs in children who consistently have issues falling asleep or refuse to go to bed.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Insomnia presents with various symptoms that include:

• Trouble falling asleep

• Difficulty staying asleep

• Unwanted early morning wakefulness

• Daytime fatigue

• Impaired memory and concentration

• Mood changes and irritability

• Difficulty functioning during the day

• Restlessness during sleep

• Waking up frequently during the night

Tests to Diagnose Insomnia

At Apollo Hospitals, experienced doctors for insomnia treatment use several methods to diagnose the condition:

• Sleep Diary: Patients track their sleep patterns, including bedtimes, wake-up times, and sleep quality.

• Physical Examination: A thorough physical examination is conducted to rule out any physical conditions that may affect sleep, such as chronic pain or respiratory issues.

• Blood Tests: These tests can identify any underlying conditions, such as thyroid problems, vitamin deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances, that might interfere with sleep.

• Sleep Study: A comprehensive examination which monitors brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, and body movements during sleep.

• Psychiatric Evaluation: This evaluation is used to identify mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that might be causing insomnia.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Insomnia at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai

Apollo Hospitals offer a variety of treatment options for insomnia, guided by doctors for restlessness treatment:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This helps patients manage stress and change detrimental sleep habits. CBT includes techniques such as stimulus control, sleep restriction, and cognitive restructuring.

• Medications: Prescription sleep aids, including benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine sleep medications, and melatonin receptor agonists can help patients fall asleep and stay asleep.

• Lifestyle Changes: Consultants guide on improving sleep hygiene like maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, minimising exposure to screens before bed, and optimising the sleep environment (e.g., reducing noise and light).

• Relaxation Techniques: Techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing techniques, guided imagery and biofeedback are taught to reduce anxiety and promote good sleep.