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Sleep Doctor Suggests Alternative Methods to Treat the Surge of Chronic Insomnia Due to the COVID 19 Pandemic

Wednesday, 15 September 2021 08:00 AM

Dr. Bobb, M.D., LLC

Meditation Instead of Medication May be the Cure

WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESSWIRE / September 15, 2021 / Up to 30% of adults in the U.S. fail to get enough sleep each night, which the CDC has declared an epidemic. Triple-board certified neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and clinical neurophysiologist Wendell Bobb, M.D. notes that insomnia is on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the surge of new variants. A new term, "coronasomnia," has been coined by some sleep experts to refer to sleep problems related to the pandemic.

The pandemic has upended many people's livelihoods, jobs, or family dynamics, causing increased worry and anxiety, affecting sleep, and creating a dangerous situation. "Many people are not aware of the serious effects of poor sleep on the various organ systems, particularly the brain," says Dr. Bobb. "During deep sleep, the toxic wastes that accumulate from the day are cleared from the brain. The less sleep we get, the more these substances build up. And one of the notorious substances is beta-amyloid which is a culprit in the development of Alzheimer's disease."

Sleep is also essential to optimize our immunity. The primary immune cells that fight off viruses such as the SARS-COV2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, are produced and released into the bloodstream and lymphatic system, mainly during deep sleep.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Numerous patients have tried pharmaceutical solutions and various cognitive-behavioral approaches with unsatisfactory results. Dr. Bobb says, "I've had frustrated patients say, 'Doc, I just can't get my mind to shut up,' which I understand because it's something I've personally experienced too."

Dr. Bobb, M.D., LLC, Wednesday, September 15, 2021, Press release picture

In researching solutions to transcend the chatter and emotions of the psyche, Dr. Bobb stumbled upon meditation, particularly mindfulness and spiritual meditation-to promote higher states of consciousness, decreased attention to the noisy mind, and an increased sense of peace. That's when Better Sleep began.

Better Sleep is an online sleep medicine consulting practice that specializes in treating patients with insomnia and other sleep disorders using traditional, holistic, or a combination of both approaches to get our patients the restorative sleep they need and deserve. Mindfulness meditation involves an intentional act of present-moment awareness while purposely allowing thoughts to pass by. The subject becomes an observer and doesn't participate in the thought or become attached to an outcome. Like many medical practitioners, Dr. Bobb was skeptical at first but found that scientifically it made perfect sense.

Dr. Bobb says, "Research shows that each unpleasant memory causes a release of certain chemical messengers, in particular norepinephrine, that causes us feelings of anxiety, and can result in increased heart rate, tightened muscles, shallow breathing, upset stomach, and a cascade of negative feelings."

Dr. Bobb, M.D., LLC, Wednesday, September 15, 2021, Press release picture

"But each physiologic response that starts with the release of norepinephrine peaks after a few minutes and then settles back down. But it is when we analyze, replay and relive the thoughts, the cycle starts over and prevents us from falling asleep. These disturbed energies in the mind will eventually dissipate if the patient doesn't participate. Dr. Bobb says, "this takes practice, and like starting anything new, it may be challenging at first but becomes easier the more we work at it."

Ongoing scientific research studies are promising, and many medical practitioners now believe that meditation can be an effective tool in treating the desperate insomniac who wants to rise above the mind's chatter. It can be a powerful technique for a good night's sleep for many patients during these difficult times.

About Better Sleep, LLC

Better Sleep was created by Dr. Wendell Bobb, who is triple board-certified in neurology, sleep medicine, and clinical neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Using online sleep-medicine consultation as its foundation, the Better Sleep practice specializes in helping patients with sleep disorders via multi-tiered methodology developed from Dr. Bobb's extensive experience in the field. A graduate of Florida State University College of Medicine, Dr. Bobb completed his residency at Georgetown University Hospital, and fellowships at Duke University Medical Center. He has been featured in Men's Health Magazine. For more information, visit the website at www.drbobbmd.com.

CONTACT

Wendell Bobb, M.D.
Phone: 1-800-484-1428
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Dr. Bobb, M.D., LLC

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