PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — About one in five Americans has difficulty sleeping. It does not have to be that way.
A rapidly growing area of medicine is one that deals with getting high-quality sleep. The good news is that there are treatments. The better news is that most people who have problems with a good night's rest, or who suffer the next day as a result of poor sleep, often seek help.
Here is the big picture. There are numerous causes of sleep problems, but they fall generally into three major groups: problems associated with falling asleep, disturbances during sleep and daytime drowsiness.
You can try to eliminate three of the simplest causes on your own. They are:
• Watching television or using the phone or computer in the bedroom.
• Drinking excessive alcohol before going to bed.
• Exercising right before trying to sleep.
If reducing these things does not work, it is worth paying a visit to your doctor.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
