Questions and answers

I don’t sleep well – what should I know?

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Restful sleep is essential for our well-being and performance. If our sleep is disturbed, not only our physical health suffers, but also our mental state. Dr. Christian Maté, general practitioner, has all the information and contact points for sleep disorders ready for you here and on KroneMED. 

There are many causes of sleep disorders. These include an irregular sleep rhythm, psychological stress and anxiety, as well as physical problems such as pain or breathing difficulties. The consumption of caffeine or alcohol can also have a negative impact on sleep.

When should I go to the doctor with sleep disorders?
If you suffer from sleep disorders, your GP is the first port of call. A detailed discussion and physical examination can often clarify whether further examinations are necessary. Simple measures such as improving sleep hygiene, relaxation techniques or adjusting your lifestyle can often help.

If there is a suspicion of a specific underlying illness behind your sleep problems that requires further specialist diagnosis and treatment, your GP will refer you accordingly. For example, a mental illness such as depression or anxiety disorder can cause sleep problems. They can carry out further diagnostics and initiate targeted treatment. For example, a mental illness such as depression or anxiety disorder can cause sleep problems. In this case, the GP will consult a psychiatrist. Sometimes, however, a neurological assessment, including an EEG, or an examination by a lung specialist is necessary if nocturnal breathing problems are suspected

Contact points on the Internet

The health hotline 1450 is available to answer health questions, even at night and at weekends. You can also find information on common health issues in the GP practice at kronemed.at. On the Internet, the health portal at www.gesundheit.gv.at offers a comprehensive range of information.

Pay attention to sleep hygiene
There are some simple but effective measures that can help you sleep better. Only go to bed when you are really tired and only use the bed for sleeping (and sex). If you can't fall asleep, get up and stay awake until you are tired again. Try to get up at the same time every morning to encourage a regular sleep pattern.

Avoid sleeping during the day and refrain from using your smartphone, TV or computer just before going to bed. Do not consume alcohol or coffee before going to bed and avoid late, large meals and late-night snacks. Ideally, exercise should be finished at least two hours before going to bed. Do not constantly look at the clock at night, as this can cause additional stress.

Psychotherapy as a solution
For sleep disorders without a specific underlying condition, behavioral therapy has been shown in many studies to be an effective therapeutic measure that should be used before medication if possible. Behavioral therapists are psychotherapists who can make their clients aware of unfavorable behavior and thought patterns in usually 4 - 8 sessions and show them how they can change them. The aim is to break out of the vicious circle of "sleep disorder - stress due to sleep disorder". 

Unfavorable behaviors that cause sleep problems can be changed through behavioral therapy.

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 The health insurance company will cover the entire costs for so-called contractual partners, or part of the costs for therapists working in private practice. In any case, you will need confirmation from your GP or specialist at the beginning that physical causes of your sleep problems have been ruled out. Talk to your GP or health insurance company about this.

What a sleep laboratory does
In a sleep laboratory, polysomnography is used to simultaneously record certain bodily functions such as breathing, heartbeat, brain waves and muscle movements during sleep. This allows the depth of sleep and sleep structure to be determined. Such an examination is not usually necessary, but can be used in rare cases to rule out specific forms of sleep disorders.

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