Insomnia management
Insomnia Management
We spend approximately one third of our life asleep and when we sleep well, we wake up feeling refreshed and alert for our daily activities. Sleep affects how we look, feel and perform on a daily basis, and can have a major impact on our physical and emotional health. To get the most out of our sleep, both quantity and quality are important.
There are over 80 different sleep disorders. Many lifestyle factors can impact sleep such as work schedule, alcohol use, illness, medications, bed sharing arrangements etc and it is good to look at the possible causes and aim to address those. Speak with one of our pharmacists about your sleeping patterns. We can assist with a wide variety of lifestyle measures and supplements to support your sleeping routine.
Sleep troubles can be so different to everyone – some people have difficulty falling asleep, others have difficulty staying asleep, so advice will be tailored to your specific sleep concerns. There are a wide range of choices including herbal, homeopathic and nutritional supplements, alongside conventional OTC options. You may be referred to your GP for further support if required.
There are many things you can do to improve our sleep including checking the following:
- Is your bedroom a good sleeping environment?
- Check your diet – could any changes be helpful?
- Are you getting enough physical exercise?
- Any emotional or physical problems that might affect your sleep? Check them out with your GP.
- Is worry or tension keeping you awake? Try relaxation techniques.
- Are there unhelpful behaviours that you could modify?
Sleep hygiene plays a huge role in assisting insomnia and so this may be discussed including a number of steps you can do to improve your sleep. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to make too many changes at once. Try 1 or 2 things at a time and see the effect.
