Break the cycle of poor sleep: Wake up to the power of integrative medicine

The New York Center for Integrative Health understands that you are more than sum of your parts. As such, we take a “big picture” look at all conditions and problems that bring individuals to our office in Manhattan. We are your source for sleep disorder treatment. And actual treatment starts with understanding you – your whole self, the many factors that could be contributing to poor sleep quality or insomnia. 

Understanding the signs

There are many different types of sleep disorders. Hypersomnias such as narcolepsy are characterized by the opposite of insomnia – excessive sleepiness. Conditions characterized by sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea, also fall under this umbrella term. 

It is estimated that around one in every three people worldwide will experience insomnia at some point. Insomnia itself comes in many different forms, including short-term and chronic insomnia. Short-term insomnia essentially lasts for less than three months. Chronic insomnia lasts for at least this long and occurs at least three days each week. Episodes of disturbed sleep can also occur repeatedly over many years. 

Both short- and long-term insomnia share the following symptoms:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Reawakening throughout the night
• Rising early in the morning

Other symptoms result from the lack of quality, restorative sleep. The following may also fall under the category of “complications” and include: 

• Persistent fatigue
• Cognitive problems, such as memory impairment or problems concentrating
• Mood disturbances, irritability
• Poor performance and productivity at work or school
• Increased risk of car or workplace accidents

Our integrative medicine practitioners also have an array of tests and assessments to identify gaps in nutrients or imbalances in hormones that could interfere with your sleep. From there, we can recommend cognitive behavioral therapy-based sleep hygiene training. Hypnotherapy, biofeedback, and other mind-body medicine techniques may be appropriate. Calming nutraceuticals and botanicals can also improve your symptoms tremendously. Even prescription medications can be helpful as a short-term measure to break the cycle of poor sleep. 

If you are interested in more information, call the New York Center for Integrative Health in Manhattan at (917) 477-3538.