- With Mayo Clinic emeritus internist
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
Dr. Kenneth Berge has been involved in Mayo Clinic's Web publications since they began in 1995, advising editors and the public throughout his tenure.
He develops content for the Ask a Specialist segment and helps plan and edit other content and design. Dr. Berge has also been an editor of CD-ROMs and books produced by Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Berge, board certified in internal medicine, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1955 and early on had a special research interest in cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and hypertension. Dr. Berge served as a leader for a number of major National Institutes of Health clinical trials that established the fundamental roles for lifestyle modifications needed to prevent cardiovascular disease. Dr. Berge served in various capacities with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. He was vice chairman of the steering committee for the Coronary Drug Project and chairman of the steering committee on Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program from 1984 to 1993.
He won the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame Award in 1987 and was Mayo Clinic voting staff president in 1976. He is an emeritus professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
He became a fellow in the American College of Physicians in 1962 and was president of the Minnesota chapter of the American College of Physicians in 1981.
As a respected physician, researcher and teacher with more than 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Berge, a native of Wahkon, Minn., brings a wealth of knowledge to the Web site. "My career as a primary care physician for more than 40 years has provided me with experience in communicating complex information to a wide variety of patients in a manner that they could understand. I also came to know their common concerns and questions," he says.
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Question
Insomnia: Why can't I stay asleep?
I have no trouble falling asleep, but I often wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. What can I do?
Answer
from Kenneth G. Berge, M.D.
Waking up in the middle of the night is called sleep maintenance insomnia, and it's a common problem. These midsleep awakenings often occur during periods of stress, but depression could be a factor. Sleep maintenance insomnia may also be due to sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.
To help stay asleep through the night, try some stress-reduction strategies. Make sure to get some exercise into your day, and then set up a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, such as a warm shower or soft music. Gentle upper body stretches or gentle yoga may help tight muscles unwind. When you wake up in the middle of the night, staying in bed and listening to some soft music or a book on tape with the lights out may help you transition back to sleep. But if you've been struggling to fall asleep for more than 20 minutes, go to another room and do something quiet and relaxing until the urge to sleep returns. It's best to avoid long periods of distress in your bed.
You might also want to avoid foods, drinks or activities that might affect your sleep patterns. Caffeine, alcohol and sugary foods can affect the quality of your sleep. Avoid caffeine after noon, limit alcohol to one drink several hours before bedtime, and pass on late night sweet snacks.
If the problem persists, talk to your doctor. In order to determine the cause and best treatment for such insomnia, you might need a referral to a sleep specialist for further evaluation. Over-the-counter sleep aids rarely offer significant help for this problem. Your doctor may prescribe medication specially designed to help you get back to sleep, combined with specific behavior changes.
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