Sleep Disorders

Sleep Disorders

Most people will experience the occasional bout of insomnia.

Maybe you’re anxious or stressed about a big presentation tomorrow.

Maybe you’re excited about something.

Or maybe you had your last cup of coffee a little too late in the day.

This happens sometimes, and it’s not usually cause for concern.

However, if your sleep difficulties are impacting your quality of sleep on a nightly or near nightly basis, you might be dealing with a sleep disorder.

In addition to making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, sleep disorders may also cause:

  • Decreased energy
  • Irritable mood
  • Impaired concentration
  • Negative impacts on your overall health

Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, can help.

Ottawa naturopathic doctor, Kimberly Dawdy has a special interest in sleep disorders.

If you’re having difficulty sleeping, naturopathic medicine can help you get to the bottom of what’s causing it. From there, your naturopath can provide solutions to help you get the shut eye you need to feel refreshed and chipper in the morning.

In many cases, this can include treatment from a naturopath for hormone balancing.

Book your appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, today.

How Do Hormones Affect Sleep?

Your body’s hormones play a significant role in your sleep wake cycle.

You can think of hormones as your body’s very own chemical messengers – they deliver information throughout your entire body.

Your hormones are responsible for a variety of bodily processes, systems, and functions, such as:

  • Metabolism and appetite
  • Growth
  • Body temperature
  • Sexual function, drive, and reproduction
  • Heart rate
  • Blood pressure
  • And, of course, sleep

Getting too much or too little sleep can impact your hormone levels and subsequently cause problems with these bodily functions and systems.

Consistently getting too little sleep may result in:

  • Reduced immunity to illnesses and infections
  • Spikes in appetite and higher calorie consumption
  • Weight gain
  • Depression
  • Slowed reaction time
  • Increased susceptibility to substance abuse
  • Difficulty focusing (“brain fog”)
  • Increased risk of high blood pressure
  • Increased risk of heart disease

On the other hand, too much sleep can cause issues as well.

Consistently getting too much sleep may result in:

  • Grogginess and daytime fatigue
  • Reduced metabolism
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Disrupted sleep cycles

There are a number of different causes for insomnia, but often it’s related to a hormonal disorder.

If you’ve been struggling to get a good night’s sleep, naturopathic medicine can help.

Book your appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, today.

Naturopathic Insomnia Solutions

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep, even if you’re tired.

It’s a common sleep disorder that affects up to half of Canadian adults.

There are three different types of insomnia – chronic, intermittent, and transient insomnia.

Transient Insomnia

If your insomnia lasts for a week or less and then goes away, it’s considered transient insomnia.

This happens from time to time, and can be caused by stress, anxiety, traveling, or eating a heavy meal or having too much caffeine before bed.

It’s usually not cause for concern.

Intermittent Insomnia

Intermittent insomnia is insomnia that comes and goes.

You might sleep fine one week, then toss and turn the next.

Intermittent insomnia is often caused by a significant life event that causes emotional distress, but it also tends to go away on its own eventually

Chronic Insomnia

If you’re having trouble sleeping more nights than not, and it lasts for a month or more, you have chronic insomnia.

Chronic insomnia is a significant issue, and left untreated it can cause a number of long term complications.

However, Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, can provide a variety of naturopathic solutions for your insomnia.

Your naturopath will focus on reducing the occurrence of insomnia through natural lifestyle changes, such as:

Chronic insomnia is frustrating at best, and can cause significant long term health issues at worst, but there is help.

Book your appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, today.

Sleep Apnea Natural Treatments

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where you stop breathing as you sleep.

This can cause you to wake up during the night, but it also causes you to not get the oxygen you need, which can cause long term health complications.

There are two different types of sleep apnea – obstructive and central.

With obstructive sleep apnea, there’s an obstruction in your airway that causes it to either narrow or close altogether. This causes you to stop breathing as you sleep. It happens when the muscles in the back of your throat relax, and the obstruction is usually your uvula, tonsils, the side walls of your throat, or even your tongue.

With central sleep apnea, there’s an issue with the connection between your brain and the muscles which control your breathing.

Symptoms and side effects of sleep apnea may include:

  • Snoring
  • Gasping for air during sleep
  • Waking up with a dry mouth
  • Headaches in the morning
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Excessive daytime fatigue
  • Difficulties with attention and focus
  • Irritability

Some naturopathic solutions for sleep apnea may include:

  • Lifestyle counselling
  • Nutritional counselling
  • Acupuncture
  • Aromatherapy
  • And others

CPAP machines are the current medical solution for sleep apnea, and they can be quite effective. However, they don’t address the underlying cause of your sleep apnea.

Through a combination approach, your CPAP machine can help you get the good night’s sleep you need, and your sleep disorders naturopathic doctor can address what’s causing your sleep apnea in the first place.

The result? A sustainable, restful night’s sleep.

Book your appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, today.

Restless Leg Syndrome Natural Solutions

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) refers to an overwhelming urge to move your legs.

Tinging sensations in your legs may also occur.

RLS symptoms are typically more prevalent at night typically causes leg twitching that may be described as itching, aching, throbbing, or creeping.

Among other issues, it can interrupt your sleep, which can lead to the same issues that come with chronic insomnia.

There are a number of different causes of restless leg syndrome, and as a result there is a variety of different naturopathic approaches.

This may include:

Let your legs – and yourself! – get some rest – book your appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, today.

Dr. Dawdy ND’s Optimal Sleep Tips

Now that you know a little bit more about sleep disorders and how naturopathic medicine can help, you might be wondering how to go about getting the best night sleep possible.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Some sleep tips I recommend for optimal sleep include:

  • Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night
  • Go to sleep and wake up at about the same time each day
  • Limit sugar intake following a night of tossing and turning
  • Keep electronics, artificial lights, and phones out of the bedroom
  • Keep your bedroom cool and well ventilated
  • Invest in a quality mattress
  • Create a “wind down” routine to practice before bed
  • Use a sleep mask or blackout curtains
  • Use a white noise machine to cancel out disruptive sounds
  • Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex

Book Your Appointment with Dr. Kimberly Dawdy, ND, Today

Sleep disorders are no joke.

Left untreated, sleep disorders may lead to a variety of negative side effects, including:

  • Unusual breathing patterns
  • Irritability and anxiety
  • Poor performance and work and school
  • Depression
  • Decreased quality of life
  • And much more

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Naturopathic medicine can help.

Book an appointment with Dawdy Naturopathic Clinic today to get started on a more restful tomorrow.

Back To Top

Table of Contents

→ Index