Insomnia Doctor in Boca Raton, FL

Insomnia can be hard to live with, but many people misguidedly try to address Insomnia with over-the-counter sleep aids or prescription medications that often make the problem worse.

Untreated Insomnia can lead to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or depression. It can cause issues with mental function – especially concentration and memory – and even contribute to premature aging. Sleep deprivation over time can even cause psychosis.

Oftentimes, it can be traced to something as simple as a medication side effect. It’s important to work with a functional medicine physician who understands how your body and sleep cycles function.

To schedule your consultation with Florida’s top Insomnia specialist, complete the form below or call us at (754) 247-0122 today!

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders. With Insomnia, you are not sleeping enough to function optimally.

How much sleep is enough? Everyone has different sleep needs. Six hours may be just right for your partner, while you need 10 to get through the next day. Your own need for sleep will change throughout your life. When you are first born, you need the most sleep you will ever need – sometimes up to 17 hours each day. Children and teenagers may require 8-10 hours of sleep. Adults need 7-9 hours, and older adults need less than that. So, Insomnia is defined by you not getting the amount of sleep that is right for you – and not being able to sleep even when you try.

There are three types of Insomnia:

• episodic, when the condition lasts for a few days, disappears and then returns;
• short-term, when Insomnia lasts for up to three months;
• and chronic, when the condition lasts for over three months.

Causes of Insomnia

Insomnia has also been linked to many causes. This is a list of some of the most common ones, but there are a myriad of potential causes that could be at play.

• Stress - Insomnia can be triggered by a major stress occurrence – like a traumatic life event - or by repeated stress. Emotional, physical, and social stressors – especially ones that persist over an extended period - all can lead to Insomnia.
• Sleep habits – From keeping an irregular schedule to watching TV or getting on the computer right before bed, there are countless poor sleep habits that can trigger episodes of Insomnia. Daytime napping can interfere with nighttime sleep, as can changing shifts at work. You should also examine your partner’s sleep habits as they may be at the root of your Insomnia.
• Eating behavior - Various vitamin and mineral deficiencies are known to contribute to sleep disorders, but sometimes it may be overeating or not eating before bed that triggers Insomnia. Also, ingesting too much caffeine or sugar can interfere with sleep.
• Disruptive sleep disorders - Sleep apnea causes some people to snore or even stop breathing while sleeping, which can cause a lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep. Sleep apnea can also be a result of Insomnia. Other sleep disturbances may include nightmares, sleepwalking or night terrors.
• Family history – Genetic sleep traits and conditions, including Insomnia, appear to run in families.
• Brain activity levels – Individuals who suffer from Insomnia may simply have more active brains or various brain chemistry differences that impact their ability to sleep.
• Medications or supplements – Check your medications to make sure that Insomnia is not a common side effect. Some medications and supplements can have a stimulant effect that is keeping you awake.
• Smoking, drug or alcohol use – All of these behaviors contribute not only to poor health, but to poor sleep.
• Dementia - Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other forms of dementia can all interfere with sleep.
• Other medical or mental health conditions – Some medical conditions like restless legs syndrome interrupt sleep. Diseases like diabetes can disrupt sleep by causing frequent urination. Gastrointestinal diseases can cause discomfort and interfere with sleep. Inadequate blood flow to the brain can cause sleep disturbances, and it can result from a variety of medical conditions. Insomnia can also be a warning sign for serious medical conditions like Parkinson’s. Even mental health conditions like bi-polar disorder can contribute to sleep problems.
• Hormonal imbalances - During pregnancy, menstrual cycles or menopause, shifts in hormone levels can lead to Insomnia. Thyroid hormone levels can also impact sleep. Thyroid disease is often linked with Insomnia.

Who is at Risk for Insomnia?

Insomnia can develop at any age, ethnicity and in gender, but it is most common in women and people older than 60. Interestingly enough, age is one of the most common causes of Insomnia. Insomnia can impact anyone – regardless of their general health condition.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Adequate sleep is essential for proper physical and mental function and sleep disorders can impact a wide array of processes in your body. The most common symptoms usually include:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• Premature awakening with an inability to fall back asleep
• Being fixated on your sleep problems
• Weight gain
• Problems with concentration and memory
• Depression, mood swings, irritability, and other changes in mental function
• And many more

Diagnosing Insomnia

A complete medical history, medical testing, and a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms can be effective tools that can be used to properly diagnose Insomnia. If you are experiencing symptoms of Insomnia, our goal is to uncover the source of your symptoms, so that we can effectively diagnose and treat your condition.

At Manhattan Integrative Medicine in Boca Raton, FL, we understand that the right hormone level testing is important, including thyroid testing – since hormone imbalance and thyroid disease are both common causes of Insomnia.

We may also ask you to keep a sleep diary.

Treating Insomnia

The underlying cause of your sleep disorder has to be addressed, and since no one patient is facing the same cause of Insomnia, the course of treatment will vary with each individual patient. Primary treatment tools may include:

• Testing and optimizing hormone levels – Imbalanced hormones can cause Insomnia.
• Developing good sleep hygiene – Identifying and removing poor sleep habits and developing practices that are conducive to sleep are key to restoring healthy sleep cycles.
• Cognitive behavioral treatment for Insomnia – There are certain cognitive-behavioral practices that can help with Insomnia.
• Testing and treatment of thyroid dysfunction – Thyroid disease is linked to Insomnia.
• Assessing Allergies - Environmental allergies, as well as food allergies and sensitivities, can all cause sleep disturbances.
• Developing a medical nutrition plan to optimize sleep – Certain foods contribute to poor sleep, while others encourage healthy sleep. Nutrition can have a tremendous impact on sleep.
• Targeted supplementation – There are many herbal, vitamin and mineral supplements that can naturally encourage good sleep, but there are also supplements that may be causing your Insomnia.
• Healthy movement – An individualized plan for healthy movement that is designed to be appropriate for your physical condition can have a profound impact on sleep.
• Stress management – Stress is one of the most common causes of Insomnia and managing your stress may solve your problem.

If you are struggling with Insomnia, working with a doctor who understands the complexity of sleep disorders is critical. At Manhattan Integrative Medicine in Boca Raton, FL, we offer the most up-to-date testing and treatment for Insomnia so you can stop suffering from the symptoms of Insomnia.

We recommend that you prepare a list of symptoms – not just your sleep issues - prior to your first consultation. There are a myriad of conditions and health issues that may be contributing to your Insomnia.

Request your consultation today.

Dr. David Borenstein is a top functional medicine practitioner in Florida who treats patients suffering from Insomnia. Because he recognizes that each patient requires a treatment regimen tailored to the individual health profile and specific symptoms, his approach is customized for you and your body. At Manhattan Integrative Medicine, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to treating complex health conditions.

Compile your symptoms checklist and call Manhattan Integrative Medicine in Boca Raton, FL at (754) 247-0122 or contact us online.

*Please note that we’re also accepting patients who have had COVID-19 and are experiencing post-infection fatigue.