Chronic sleep problems, insomnia, and poor sleep patterns  plague millions of Americans.  While many doctors prescribe Lunesta, Sonata, or Ambien CR to combat insomnia, it is rarely clear to the doctor, or patient for that matter, just how much sleep the patient gets on a nightly basis.

Well, we recently read a New York Times article about a new device, the Fitbit Tracker, that will allow for those of us with insomnia to measure the number of hours we sleep every night.  Also, the Fitbit Tracker measures sleep patterns throughout the night according to Fitbit Inc.  The tracker, which is worn on the wrist, uses motion sensing technology to capture physical acitivity at night and during the day.  This allows people to learn not only about their sleep patterns, but also measure calories, steps, and distance at the touch of a button.

All of the data is wirelessly uploaded from the tiny device to a website that tracks sleep information and progress against fitness goals.  The company says that the website will include motivational interfaces, community, and lots of health related information.

When you ask your doctor to prescribe sleep medication like Ambien, the reply is usually “how much sleep are you getting”?  Now you can answer with up to 7 days of data.   Doctors and sleep specialists can then accurately diagnose whether you have a chronic issue that requires medication, or just a slight change in your bedtime routine.

The Fitbit Tracker is expected to cost $99 when introduced this summer.  This costs a lot less than most sleep centers, and you can meausre your sleep patterns in the comfort of your own home.

If you have considered going to a sleep center to measure your insomnia,  sleep patterns, or other chronic sleep issues, then you should consider the Fitbit Tracker as an alternative.

Sleep well!