It is likely no surprise that breast cancer survivors experience insomnia at TWICE the rate of the general population. Let’s see…shock of a life threatening illness, side effects from treatment, pain from surgery, fear of recurrence, night time hot flashes…yeah that seems about right. Not only is it maddening, but it can also lead to additional health problems, such as depression and increased inflammation.
#OurTribe is pleased to announce the launch of “SOS: #our Series On Sleep.” We’ve looked into all aspects, including causes of insomnia, how to find help, use of medication, and we even test drive some of the common strategies for getting a goodnights sleep. We also speak to the experts and review the latest research in the field (spoiler alert: reviewing medical research journals may be the most effective way to induce sleep!).
Speaking of research, we wanted to leave you with a few nuggets from a recent article (February 20, 2018) published in JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, titled “Innovation in the Treatment of Insomnia in Breast Cancer Survivors.”
According to the article:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was found to be as good, and sometimes better, than taking sleeping pills
- Tai Chi and mindfulness meditation are helpful at treating, and may even prevent, insomnia.
- Specifically in breast cancer survivors, Tai Chi was extremely successful in decreasing insomnia, as well as reducing daytime sleepiness, depression and fatigue.
Who knew that Tai Chi was so effective?!
What are your challenges or solutions for a good nights sleep? As always, we would love to hear from you!
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