4 Ways Tech Can Help with Insomnia

Updated on August 28, 2019

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders that affects as many as 30 million Americans. Its symptoms include difficulty falling or staying asleep, as well as feelings of fatigue and low energy. 

It is reported that at least one in four Americans complains of acute insomnia. On the other hand, 10% of people suffer from chronic insomnia, which means that they have trouble sleeping on at least three nights a week for three months or longer.

Continuous stress, discomfort, bright lights, or a pre-existing medical condition are thought to be the main causes of sleepless nights. This results in lowered work performance and increased risk of mental health disorders and long-term diseases.

There are many technological advances today that treat and alleviate insomnia symptoms. Read on to learn more about how tech can help with getting the ideal amount of night rest.

Sleep Apps

There is a variety of sleep apps available for download on smartphones and tablets. What sleep apps do is monitor your movements and breathing during the night. Then they use the data to analyze your sleep patterns and identify the core issues behind your lack of sleep. 

Most of the sleep apps on the market offer tips and insights into how to optimize your sleep routine. Some, like Sleepio, even provide sessions with a virtual sleep expert that are customized to your particular sleep disorder. 

Others, such as Sleep Sounds, use stories and meditations created to help you drift off to sleep more quickly. The majority of apps also come equipped with background soothing sounds intended to create a peaceful atmosphere for a deeper and healthier sleep.

Light Therapy

Light therapy boxes are suggested as one possible treatment for insomnia. Light therapy involves a special light box that mimics outdoor light and requires the user to sit near it for a certain period of time every day. 

The light is meant to realign a disturbed circadian rhythm, which controls the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Light therapy might have certain side-effects and should not be used without a doctor’s recommendation.

Light Bulbs

The Good Night Biological LED Bulb is proven to be effective in insomnia treatment by eliminating the harmful blue light, which increases melatonin levels and delays sleep. Instead, it creates light that gets the body ready for sleep as well as contributing to the body falling back into its natural circadian rhythm. It is also less expensive and safer to use than sleeping medication.

Smart Beds and Mattresses

One of the causes of insomnia is physical discomfort, mostly in terms of sleeping positions and body temperature. The Sleep Number 360™ smart bed has a solution to both issues. It senses movement during the night and automatically adjusts your sleep position in real-time to make you more comfortable. It even regulates your body temperature, allowing you to fall asleep faster and more easily.

In Conclusion

Tech has come a long way in creating devices and ways to improve your sleep quality and quantity. From apps to light bulbs, all of these technological developments are designed to give you a good night’s sleep. What is more, tech is here to help insomnia sufferers get relief from a sleep disorder that has a huge negative impact on their quality of life.

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