Question 1

How do you look at sleep maintenance problems where you wake at the same time every night?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us they can fall asleep, but without fail they wake up around 2 or 3 a.m. and then take a long time to fall back asleep. What's distinctive is that the time is almost always the same.

Question 2

What do you check for unrefreshing sleep, when you sleep but don't feel rested?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us they spend plenty of time in bed, but their body feels heavy in the morning. Many also say they had vivid dreams all night.

Question 3

Why do you do an abdominal exam when treating insomnia?

Accepted Answer

Because many people who can't sleep also have an uncomfortable stomach. If the digestive system is still working at night, sleep becomes light.

Question 4

Waking at night to urinate and insomnia: how do you tell which comes first?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us their sleep is broken because they go to the bathroom several times a night. They also say they keep feeling the urge even though they don't pass much urine.

Question 5

When you sweat a lot and sleep lightly, why look at both together?

Accepted Answer

Patients tell us their hands and feet, or their whole body, sweat a lot, and their clothes are wet when they wake up. They also say it takes over an hour to fall asleep after lying down.

Types of insomnia