Sleep Deprivation Treatment: HSA Eligibility

What is sleep deprivation treatment?

Sleep deprivation treatment, also known as insomnia treatment, are a series of therapies and non-drug treatments that are designed to help patients achieve a more thorough and restful sleep to wake up refreshed and stay alert throughout the day. Adults should aim for 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep each night, and if they do not reach this number, this lack of sleep can contribute to numerous health problems over time.

While medications are one form of treatment for sleep deprivation, most doctors will aim to solve the issue without the use of drugs by focusing on a number of factors that could contribute to a poor sleep cycle, such as a patient's age, his/her Circadian rhythm, any psychological stressors present and the presence of sleep altering substances like alcohol, drugs or nicotine. Some of the most common forms of sleep deprivation treatment include via Medical News Today:

• Stimulus Control Therapy: This form of therapy aims to remove any factor that may interfere with the body's sleep cycle and resists the urge to sleep. For instance, this therapy will force the patient to stick to controlled bedtimes and eliminate specific activities before bed. Additionally, this therapy may be paired with a tactic called sleep restriction, in which a patient will decrease the time spent in bed to cause partial sleep deprivation, which can make it easier to sleep the next night while slowly increasing the overall time in bed.
• Sleep Hygiene: This term has become more popular in recent decades as a means of treating sleep deprivation and eliminating lifestyle habits that could be inhibiting the sleep cycle. Outside stimuli such as alcohol, nicotine or caffeine are primary culprits, as well as a lack of regular exercise or not allowing a proper cool down period before sleep.
• Sleep Environment Changes: In addition to the lifestyle habits and behaviors that may affect proper sleep, many sleep specialists recommend a series of changes to the patient's environment. These include installing blackout shades or wearing a sleep mask to create a completely dark environment, altering the temperature, removing the TV/mobile devices and more.
• Relaxation Training: This form of therapy is a combination of a number of different strategies, which first aims for the patient to identify how to best his/her body and mind through the use of meditation, muscle relaxation and other methods. Additionally, biofeedback, or the recognition of biological signs that signal the onset of sleep (heart rate, muscle tension, etc.) is also an important facet of relaxation training that can prepare the body for sleep more quickly.