I am unable to sleep and my MD will not give me sleeping pills. She said to change my lifestyle! I disagree, and know that my sleeplessness is a result of heart disease.
Heart Diseases - 1 Answers
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While it's true that many heart patients suffer from insomnia, it can be caused (or aggravated) by many things. You don't give a lot of details, such as what heart condition you have or what aspects of your lifestyle your doctor wants you to change, so I can only offer a few suggestions. Avoid caffeine and chocolate at least 5 hours before bed. Avoid exercise or strenuous activities/chores at least 2 hours before bed. Avoid taking daytime naps. Do something before bed that relaxes you, both physically and mentally, such as a warm bath, a good book, etc. Warm milk, herbal teas, light snacks (not a heavy meal), etc. also help. When you feel tired, go to bed. If you haven't fallen asleep in an hour or two, get back up until you feel tired again. It's suggested that you turn off the TV and lights, but some people have more difficulty in the quiet and dark. If you find you must have sound, try using a radio with soothing "elevator" music, or a TV show that's boring (Perry Mason used to work for me!). If you must have light and don't want the TV on, use only a small night light or two, or leave the light on in the bathroom or closet. If it's feasible for you, a lot of people find having a lighted fish tank in the bedroom very helpful (watching the fish is often very tranquil). If you find it harder to breathe when you're lying flat because of your heart condition, use extra pillows or you may even need to sleep in a recliner. The remedy you choose will depend on the root cause of your sleeplessness. If you've tried these things and still cannot get to sleep or stay asleep, I'd strongly suggest you get a different doctor. Occasional insomnia is common, and people who suffer an occasional sleepless night really shouldn't resort to medications as most can be addicting. Chronic insomnia, however, is a very real problem and can affect every aspect of your life. Becoming dependent on sleeping medication is far preferable to chronic insomnia, and many medications are safe for heart patients. In my opinion, your physician is being judgmental about your problem. Some doctors view insomnia as a sort of character weakness, like you either want to "drop out" of life, avoid your problems, or are just drug seeking. This is just not always the case. With a heart condition, I can't recommend you take an over-the-counter sleeping pill, and they aren't meant for chronic insomnia anyway. See another doctor. When you call to make an appointment, tell their nurse why you need to see them and ask if the doctor might help with your problem (to avoid seeing another doctor like the one you already have). In the meantime, keep a sleep "diary" to show the doctor. Record how much you sleep each night, times, etc., and what you've tried so far. If the first medication he prescribes doesn't work, or doesn't work well, you can call him and let him prescribe something else. It could take a while, but with the right doctor, one who's compasionate and knowledgeable, there IS a solution for you. I also have a heart condition and had suffered from insomnia for many years, even before the heart condition. My doctor prescribed a couple of things that didn't help, then essentially "blew me off". I finally changed doctors. I'm now on Klonipin 0.5 mg (a small dose) and Temazepam 30 mg, and I easily and safely sleep 7 or more hours per night. I know it makes a world of difference getting a good night's sleep. I hope this helps you. Good luck and sweet dreams!
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