Sleep Impairment

About 1 in 3 adults in the United States don’t get the recommended amount of high-quality sleep needed to protect their health. If you struggle with sleep impairment, see advanced registered nurse practitioner Stephanie Blanshan, ARNP, and the team at Resonance Psychiatry. They provide treatments for sleep disorders to help you sleep more soundly and wake up refreshed. Schedule a telehealth appointment by phone or request one online today.

What is sleep impairment?

Impaired sleep is disrupted, insufficient, or poor-quality sleep that may harm your physical and mental well-being. It might include difficulty staying asleep, problems falling asleep, or waking up feeling tired. 

While lack of sleep can negatively impact your quality of life if left untreated, the Resonance Psychiatry team offers effective solutions.

What are the symptoms of sleep impairment?

Sleep impairment might cause the following symptoms:

• Daytime sleepiness
• Waking up tired
• Waking up throughout the night
• Not sleeping enough
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Loud snoring
• Moving around frequently during sleep

Treating sleep impairment may help you feel better and reduce the risk of health complications.

What are the different types of sleep disorders?

Examples of sleep disorders include:

• Restless legs syndrome (RLS): strong urges to move your legs when trying to sleep
• Insomnia: trouble staying asleep or falling asleep
• Sleep apnea: periods of stopped breathing during sleep
• Parasomnia: unusual behavior during sleep, such as sleep talking or sleep walking
• Hypersomnia: extreme daytime tiredness

Even if you don’t have a diagnosable sleep disorder, you might not get sufficient high-quality sleep because of certain lifestyle habits or your schedule. 

What are the risk factors for sleep impairment?

The cause isn’t always clear, but sleep disorder risk factors could include:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Pain
• Chronic disease
• Some medications
• Genetics
• Hormone changes
• Aging
• Irregular sleep schedule
• Carrying excess weight

Adopting healthy habits may help you get a better night’s rest. 

How is sleep impairment diagnosed?

Diagnosing sleep impairment involves a virtual meeting with the Resonance Psychiatry team. They review your lifestyle, moods, emotions, thoughts, medications, and symptoms during a psychiatric evaluation. 

You might complete a sleep study at a center or a home-based sleep study to determine if you have a sleep disorder and how to best treat your condition. Your Resonance Psychiatry provider might also recommend genetic testing or other lab tests.

How is sleep impairment treated?

Your personalized treatment plan for sleep impairment may include:

• Lifestyle changes
• Dietary supplements
• Medication management
• Stress management
• Behavioral therapy
• Positive airway pressure machine
• Weight management
• Sleep optimization
• Combination of treatments

It’s helpful to ease stress, stay active, eat a balanced diet, and maintain a regular sleep schedule. Avoid smoking and limit or avoid alcohol, especially before bed.

Sleep more soundly and feel better by treating sleep impairment with the help of Resonance Psychiatry. Call the office or book a telehealth appointment online today.