SYRACUSE -- Getting a good night's sleep seems to be harder these days. Many people find themselves tossing and turning. Their bodies are ready for bed, but clearly their minds are not. "If you use insomnia as your sleep problem or sleep disorder, it's very prevalent," said Dr. Steve Alkins, Medical Director are Crouse's Sleep Center.
Crouse Hospital just opened a new sleep center locally. It's a full-service state-of-the-art facility, featuring six private suites where they test for sleep disorders. And it couldn't come at a better time. Some 70 million people have trouble sleeping. And for many, it looks like the ailing economy may be to blame. "Anything that weighs on your mind. Anything that when the lights go out and a lot of the distractions from your day to day life are gone, they're going to come right to the surface and certainly it's going to impact your ability to get a restful night's sleep," Dr. Alkins said.
According to a new study by the National Sleep Foundation, more and more people are restless at night. The study finds one-third of American are losing sleep over their personal finances and the state of the economy in general. Two out of every ten people surveyed sleep less than six hours a night. And nearly 90% report symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights a week in the past month.
That can lead to all kinds of problems like decreased productivity at work, and in some cases, a slew of serious health problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes and depression. Treatment depends on the patient and the severity of their sleep disorder. "The treatment can be as simple as losing some weight. Hard to do. Sometimes not sleeping on your back, sometimes surgery, sometimes a mask you wear at night called CPAP," said Dr. Alkins.
Here are some tips to get a better night's sleep:
Have a standard bedtime and wake up time.
Exercise regularly, but finish your workout at least three hours before you go to bed.
Avoid caffeine close to bedtime.
Try to keep TV's and computers away from your bedroom.
