Forum Health Las Colinas, Irving TX

  • Home
  • About
    • About Dr. Elwell
    • Our Providers
    • Our Approach
    • Meet our Care Team
    • Blog
  • Wellness
    • What is Functional Medicine
    • Sleep Problems and Treatments
    • Food Sensitivity Testing
    • Nutritional Testing
    • Gastrointestinal Testing
    • Gut Health and Hormones
    • Nutrient Injections
    • Supplements for Heart Health
    • Mitochondrial Health
    • Mindfulness
  • Weight Loss
    • Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program
    • Why Our Weight Loss Program Works
    • How to Get the Best Results from Semaglutide or Tirzepatide
    • What Makes Our Semaglutide Weight Loss Program Different?
    • Insulin Resistance
    • Hormone Imbalances & Weight Loss
    • Stress, Sleep, Hormones & Weight Loss
    • Long-Term Weight Loss Success
  • Hormones
    • Hormone Descriptions
    • Hormone Therapy Research
    • Pellet Therapy
    • Progesterone Benefits
    • Progesterone and Sleep
    • Hormones and Depression
    • Estrogen Dominance
    • Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women
    • Bioidentical Hormones FAQs
      • HRT Risks?
    • HRT and Osteoporosis
  • For Women
    • Bioidentical Hormones
    • Menopause Treatment
      • Menopause and Hormones
      • Menopause and Sex
      • Perimenopause
    • Thyroid Treatment
      • Hashimoto’s Disease
    • Hair Loss in Women
    • PCOS
      • PCOS Treatment
    • Gut Health and Hormones
    • HRT and Dementia
  • For Men
    • Hormones for Men
    • Thyroid
    • Hashimoto’s Disease
    • FAQs for Men
    • Whole-Body Wellness
    • Hair Loss
    • Testosterone Research Studies
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Contact
    • New Patient Information
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Map & Directions
  • Existing Patients call (972) 589-1677
  • New Patients call 972-960-4800
  • Portal
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Forum Health Las Colinas, Irving TX

  • Home
  • About
    • About Dr. Elwell
    • Our Providers
    • Our Approach
    • Meet our Care Team
    • Blog
  • Wellness
    • What is Functional Medicine
    • Sleep Problems and Treatments
    • Food Sensitivity Testing
    • Nutritional Testing
    • Gastrointestinal Testing
    • Gut Health and Hormones
    • Nutrient Injections
    • Supplements for Heart Health
    • Mitochondrial Health
    • Mindfulness
  • Weight Loss
    • Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program
    • Why Our Weight Loss Program Works
    • How to Get the Best Results from Semaglutide or Tirzepatide
    • What Makes Our Semaglutide Weight Loss Program Different?
    • Insulin Resistance
    • Hormone Imbalances & Weight Loss
    • Stress, Sleep, Hormones & Weight Loss
    • Long-Term Weight Loss Success
  • Hormones
    • Hormone Descriptions
    • Hormone Therapy Research
    • Pellet Therapy
    • Progesterone Benefits
    • Progesterone and Sleep
    • Hormones and Depression
    • Estrogen Dominance
    • Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women
    • Bioidentical Hormones FAQs
      • HRT Risks?
    • HRT and Osteoporosis
  • For Women
    • Bioidentical Hormones
    • Menopause Treatment
      • Menopause and Hormones
      • Menopause and Sex
      • Perimenopause
    • Thyroid Treatment
      • Hashimoto’s Disease
    • Hair Loss in Women
    • PCOS
      • PCOS Treatment
    • Gut Health and Hormones
    • HRT and Dementia
  • For Men
    • Hormones for Men
    • Thyroid
    • Hashimoto’s Disease
    • FAQs for Men
    • Whole-Body Wellness
    • Hair Loss
    • Testosterone Research Studies
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Contact
    • New Patient Information
    • Insurance Coverage
    • Map & Directions
  • Existing Patients call (972) 589-1677
  • New Patients call 972-960-4800
  • Portal

Sleep Problems and Treatments

Why Sleep Is So Important — and How We Can Help You Overcome Sleep Problems

sleep problems

Nothing feels better than waking up from a good night’s sleep. You’re refreshed—both body and mind—and ready to start your day. After all, sleep is as fundamental as eating, drinking, and breathing.
 
That’s why sleep problems can cause so much damage. Lose a night’s sleep and you’re less able to think clearly and function the next day. Lose sleep several nights in a row—even for just a few hours a night—and your body and mind begin to feel it. More importantly, lack of sleep can lead to a host of chronic health conditions.

So yes, sleep problems can dramatically affect your quality of life. That’s why our team is dedicated to finding the root cause of your sleep issues. By doing so, we can resolve them and help you live a happier, healthier, more successful life.

 

A Whole-body Approach to Treating Sleep Problems

sleep problems

If you’ve got sleep problems, you’re definitely not alone: Approximately 70% of U.S. adults have sleep issues. Yet often, doctors will prescribe a sleeping pill—which can’t resolve the root cause of the problem. And in some cases, such as with Ambien, the side effects can make the problem worse.
 
Functional medicine is a whole-body approach. We spend time with you to learn your history, current state of health, and all concerns you may have. This, combined with comprehensive lab testing, can help us determine the root cause of your sleep problems. That way, we can provide a complete treatment plan to help you start feeling better as fast as possible.
 
So many things can cause sleep issues. And not getting enough sleep can increase your risk of developing chronic disease. That’s why it’s important to find exactly what’s at the bottom of your sleep problem.
 

For More Information call our New Patient Coordinator at 972-960-4800

Or Fill In the Inquiry Form Below and We Will Contact You! 

 

The Benefits of Proper Sleep

How much sleep do you need? It depends on your age. The National Sleep Foundation breaks it down into eight categories, from 17 hours for newborns to seven to eight hours for older adults. The recommendation for young adults and adults is seven to nine hours. Benefits of getting the proper amount of sleep include:

  • Improved memory and creativity
  • Better physical fitness
  • Healthier immune system
  • Increased vitality — better tissue repair and good hair, skin, and nails
  • Improved stress management
  • Greater emotional stability
  • Reduced risk of hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and death
  • Metabolism and weight management
  • Reduction of obesity and diabetes
  • Decreased risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s

 

The Importance of Sleep Cycles

When you sleep, your body repairs, regenerates, and restores itself. If your sleep cycles are always interrupted, you’re not going to wake up feeling refreshed—no matter how many hours of sleep you get.
 
Ideally, you should move through the various cycles of sleep every 90 to 110 minutes. Different physiological changes occur throughout your body and brain during each cycle. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) is the dreaming state of sleep and only occurs once during each cycle. No dreaming occurs in the others.
 

 

 

SLEEP STAGES:

  • Stage 1 – Mild Sleep, the lightest state when you first fall asleep. Your brain activity begins to slow down, and you can still awake easily.
  • Stage 2 – Moderate Sleep. Your heart rate slows down, body temperature decreases, and your brain waves continue to slow.
  • Stage 3 – Deep Sleep. The brain enters the very slow, Delta-waves phase. Your body releases Human Growth Hormone, responsible for cell growth, reproduction, and regeneration. This is the most important time for healing and restoration of the body. 
  • Stage 4 – REM Sleep. This is your deep, dreaming sleep when your brain waves become more active. 
The cycle of stages repeats four to six times per night. The amount of Stage 3 deep sleep decreases toward morning, while REM sleep increases. It’s common to wake several times during a good night’s sleep, although you may not remember it. Getting about 60 to 90 minutes of both deep, slow-wave sleep and REM sleep is considered a good night’s sleep. 
 
Any interruption or disturbance of sleep can mean less time spent in each of the sleep cycles. This includes the deep sleep stage which is crucial to health.

 

Sleep Disorders

sleep problemsMost of us are familiar with the term insomnia, used to describe one of the most common types of sleep disorders. But did you know that there are more than 100 specific sleep disorders?

According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD), most sleep disorders fall into the following six general categories:

  • Problems falling and staying asleep (insomnia)
  • Sleep-related breathing disorders (sleep apnea)
  • Problems staying awake (excessive daytime sleepiness)
  • Problems sticking to a regular sleep schedule (circadian-rhythm sleep-wake problem)
  • Unusual behaviors during sleep (parasomnia)
  • Sleep-Related Movement Disorders (restless legs)

TYPES OF SLEEP DISORDERS:

SLEEP APNEA is a condition where you repeatedly stop and start breathing while you sleep. Sleep apnea can lead to fatigue and insomnia, anxiety and depression, obesity and diabetes, dementia, and heart disease, including hypertension, stroke, heart attack, and death. 

HYPERSOMNIA is also known as excessive sleepiness. This is the feeling of being tired all the time no matter how much you sleep. Hypersomnia can be caused by other medical conditions or even medications.

NARCOLEPSY is persistent daytime sleepiness that can become dangerous. People with narcolepsy tend to go right into dreaming (REM sleep), falling asleep at work, in the car at a red light, or while eating. 

SHIFT WORK DISORDER is when you lack sleep or develop insomnia due to not being able to sleep during regular sleep hours. Truck drivers and night-shift workers often experience this disorder.

PARASOMNIAS are undesirable physical events or experiences that happen when you’re entering sleep, within sleep, or during arousal from sleep. These can include sleep terrors, sleep paralysis, and sleep talking.

SLEEP-RELATED MOVEMENT DISORDERS include restless leg syndrome (RLS), the strong and almost irresistible urge to move your legs, ultimately keeping you awake at night. Another disorder, periodic limb movement syndrome, affects all your limbs, not just legs. Both conditions can occur at night when resting or when active or relaxing during the day.

 

Other Medical Conditions That Can Cause Sleep Problems

sleep problemsIn addition to Sleep Apnea and Restless Leg Syndrome, there are other medical conditions that lead to an inability to sleep. These can include:

  • Melatonin and cortisol imbalances
  • Other hormonal imbalances such as estrogen and progesterone
  • Magnesium deficiency
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Chronic pain
  • Unhealthy gut microbiome
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Allergies
  • Insulin resistance

 

Lifestyle Choices and Sleep Problems

We’re all busier than ever these days, but our lifestyle choices can cause many of our sleep issues. Things like drinking too much caffeine late in the day, or consuming alcohol too close to bedtime, can certainly interfere with your sleep cycle. Anxiety, worry, and excessive mind chatter can keep you from falling asleep easily. And exercising too late in the day can raise your cortisol levels, making it harder to fall asleep.

With all that said, changing behavior and lifestyle choices can be easier said than done—particularly since you’re already tired from not getting enough sleep. Yet, there are a few things you can do to start moving in the right direction.

TIPS FOR BETTER SLEEP:

  • First and foremost, see a doctor. At Forum Health Las Colinas, we can discover any medical issues that may be impeding your ability to get a good night’s sleep.
  • Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Your body will develop a rhythm and begin to feel sleepier at your daily bedtime if you are habitual with your waking and sleeping hours.
  • Unplug from your electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime. This will eliminate the “blue light” effect on your endocrine system which inhibits sleep.
  • Take a hot bath in Epsom Salts. A bath is a good way to unwind, and these salts contain magnesium, the magical mineral that helps to soothe and calm your body so you can sleep deeper.
  • Eat a cleaner diet. Processed foods and a diet high in sugars and starches can wreak havoc on your gut health and blood sugar.
  • Expose yourself to sunlight, early in the day, if possible, for at least 30-minutes. This will help with your melatonin production.
  • If you suffer from anxiety or have trouble turning your mind off at night, try writing down your worries or to-do list in a notepad. You can also try reading a book before bed to help your mind escape.
  • Turn down the thermostat. Studies have shown that a cool room is more conducive to a good night’s sleep.
  • Curb caffeine consumption in the afternoon and evening.
  • Avoid excessive alcohol use.
  • Make your bedroom as dark as possible. This helps your body utilize melatonin more effectively. If there’s too much light pollution for total darkness, try blackout curtains or a sleep mask.
  • Use relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or prayer. You can also play tranquil music or soothing sounds like the sound of a waterfall or rain falling.

 

Questions About How We Can Help You With Your Sleep Problems? Contact our New Patient Coordinator for a Free Phone Consultation.

The health and safety of our staff and patients is a top priority for all of us at the office of Forum Health Las Colinas. We are offering both virtual appointments and in-clinic appointments, whichever you prefer. If you are coming in to see us in person, keep in mind that we main the highest of standards when it comes to the safety of our patients. We sanitize rooms between patients and shared surfaces such as door handles, etc., throughout the day. 

Should you choose to have a telemedicine appointment, you will still be able to see your provider, just as if she were standing in front of you in the office so that you’ll still get the same “connection” as if your appointment was in the clinic. Additionally, we have mobile phlebotomy services available if you do not want to go to a public lab.   

Our providers at Forum Health Las Colinas. are devoted to understanding our patients’ health concerns and symptoms.  We use scientific-based protocols to find the root cause of hormonal imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and more. We believe that spending quality, personalized time with each patient provides the necessary foundation to help you achieve optimal health and wellness. Our system incorporates provider consultation, comprehensive health assessment, and laboratory testing in a warm and caring environment.

Contact our New Patient Coordinator for a Free Phone Consultation. She can explain our protocols and fees in more detail, answer any questions or concerns you have, and explain how our approach can help with hormonal balance, anti-aging, and disease prevention so that you can enjoy a vibrant and healthy life!

 

 

For More Information call our New Patient Coordinator at 972-960-4800

Or Fill In the Inquiry Form Below and We Will Contact You! 

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Please confirm you are in Texas [note: we are only able to service those who are in Texas.]
Note: General website communications are inherently not secure. DO NOT send data considered confidential or private in nature on this form.We look forward to speaking or emailing with you in more detail.

  • Shop
    • Store Terms and Conditions
    • Store Privacy Policy
  • Patient Portal
  • Notice of Complaint
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Call Us

For New Patients:
972-960-4800

For Existing Patients:
(972) 589-1677

Fax Number:
(972) 695-4001

Office Hours

New Patient Coordinator:
Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Our Address:
440 W Lyndon B Johnson Fwy,
Suite 455, Irving, TX  75063

Copyright © 2025 Forum Health Las Colinas ·Website Design by Cook Profitability Services · Log in