Insomnia Questions

1. Does sleep deprivation affect the brain?

   The brain will not function well when sleep deprived, but it should not "shut down" completely. Research shows that lack of sleep causes mental, physical, and emotional health to suffer. Therefore, you will have more trouble concentrating and doing simple tasks when sleep deprived. Having had insomnia myself, it is a terrible feeling not to sleep well...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

2. What can be done for restlessness after a stroke?

   It's a bit hard to pinpoint the problem based on this description. A few things come to mind. First, could he be having "restless legs syndrome", whereby his legs constantly feel like they have to be moving. If so, that is typically fixable with gabapentin or a dopamine agonist medicine such as Requip...
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3. What can we give my mother to help her sleep?

   Before you resort to a medication you might want to try non-pharmacological strategies. It may help if you could keep your mother awake during the day by providing some activity for her. I do not know if she would be still able to sort cards or tokens, or watch an old movie or TV program. If that does not help you might want to try trazodone...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

4. Is There a Solution for Insomnia Caused by Waking up to Use the Bathroom?

   Yes, but to find a solution to this sleep problem -- officially known as nocturia -- you'll need to start by identifying and treating the underlying health conditions contributing to it.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 12 Community Answers

5. Can melatonin be given with Aricept? And if you're on Aricept should the DMV be notified?

   In a well controlled study, melatonin was not found effective in promoting sleep in persons with dementia. Aricept does not help sleep either, it actually could disrupt sleep if given in the evening by causing nightmares. Aricept is sometimes prescribed even for people with mild cognitive impairment...
   1 Expert Answer

6. Is it normal to wake often to use the bathroom?

   Yes, but to find a solution to this sleep problem -- officially known as nocturia -- you'll need to start by identifying and treating the underlying health conditions contributing to it.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

7. What can help Mom with her sleep issues after chemotherapy?

   The National Institute of Cancer estimates that 45% of people with cancer experience sleep disturbance. Your mom is not alone.
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

8. Are there safe sleep aids for seniors?

   In the treatment of sleep problems, it is always best to first try non-pharmacologic options so there is no danger of side effects. The first step is to adopt standard sleep hygiene techniques that have been shown to be effective. These include, first, maintaining a regular sleep wake cycle, so that...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

9. We are concerned for my mother-in-law's safety in living alone in her home, but how can we convince her to move?

   Thank you so much for sharing your question with Caring.com. It will be helpful to others. It is hard to lose a loved one and harder still if the loss is from suicide. Yet, suicide is one of the leading causes of death, especially in men over the age of 70 during the spring and summer months.
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

10. Why does menopause cause insomnia?

    Women in menopause often experience a decrease in estrogen. Some of the symptoms of estrogen are migraine headaches, hot flashes, night sweats and anxiety. Clearly, all these physical reactions can make it difficult for a person to get to sleep or stay asleep, which is the definition of insomnia.
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11. What is the ICD9 code for insomnia?

    Insomnia (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/inso/inso_whatis.html) is a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. It is not uncommon for most people to have brief spells of insomnia but it can become a chronic condition. Insomnia can lead to serious health side effects due to lack of sleep...
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12. Does Zoloft cause insomnia?

    Insomnia or sleeplessness as it is commonly called, is one of the common side effects of Zoloft.Based on clinical trials of Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) insomnia occurred in twenty eight percent of people taking the medication. However some people who take Zoloft find that improving their sleep habits can be an effective cure to insomnia...
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13. Is insomnia an early pregnancy symptom?

    There are a lot of causes for insomnia (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/inso/inso_whatis.html). In fact any number of changes to your lifestyle, drugs, medical conditions or stress can cause insomnia problems. Certainly pregnancy involves a great deal of sudden changes happening within your body...
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14. Does Xanax treat insomnia?

    Xanax is commonly used in the treatment of insomnia. It is in the class of drugs referred to as benzodiazepines, which produce a calming effect on the brain and nerves. This is, however, considered an off-label use as it is not what the medication was create or approved to treat.
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15. Do thyroid problems cause insomnia?

    Insomnia can not only cause an inability to sleep it can also cause unnecessary stress and anxiety, mental inactivity and physical fatigue. A thyroid problem, whether it be an overactive thyroid or under active thyroid can cause reduced sleep and sometimes an lack of ability to get any sleep at all...
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16. Can exercise cause insomnia?

    Actually, multiple studies have found that regular exercise reduces the frequency of insomnia episodes. It is thought that exercise makes the transitions between the different sleep stages more smooth, thereby prolonging the sleep state. Exercise allows for stress relief and muscle relaxation, both of which help promote sleep...
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17. Can vitamin D help treat insomnia?

    There are a few types of pills that you can take that might help insomnia. Antidepressants definitely seem to alleviate the problem with some people, but they have a lot of side effects. A lot of people use home remedies such as vitamin D, but there have not been any definitive medical studies showing that it helps...
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18. Does prednisone cause insomnia?

    Prednisone belongs to the class of drugs known as corticosteroids. It is a prescription medicine used mainly for reducing inflammation or restore normalcy to a hyperactive immune system. Prednisone is also prescribed for the treatment of many different health conditions like allergic or breathing...
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19. Can sleep apnea cause insomnia?

    This is an interesting question due to the fact that some of the issues related to both ailments are interrelated. Sleep apnea is a result of restricted airwaves as a result of many different factors. Insomnia is just the plain old inability to sleep...
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20. How does insomnia affect your health?

    Insomnia, which is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep, can have many effects on the psychological well-being of the sufferer. Fatigue, poor concentration, body pains, anxiety, and even hallucinations can occur if the body is deprived of the sleep it requires...
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