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Consumer Reports: Sleep Better With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - One out of four people say they have trouble sleeping. Some may pop a sleeping pill, but most of those drugs can come with side effects. Consumer Reports' analysis finds they don't work all that well either.

New research points to a better solution for insomnia and has no side effects. It's called cognitive behavioral therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to improve the amount of sleep you get, the quality of your sleep, and helps limit the number of times you wake up at night.

Here's how treatment usually works: You'll be asked to keep a sleep diary along with rating your sleep and how you feel the next day. A therapist will review that information and suggest strategies to improve the amount and quality of sleep you're getting. They will also help you change your daily routine to set your body's wake-sleep cycle.

And because sleeping better makes you feel better during the day, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine says that cognitive behavioral therapy can significantly improve your overall well-being and quality of life.

Professional cognitive behavioral therapy requires about two months of weekly sessions and is usually covered by insurance. You can find a cognitive behavioral therapist in your area at behavioralsleep.org.

Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports' website. Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.

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