Is taking 10-20mg of a statin starting at age 35 a good or bad idea? I have slightly high cholesterol and my doctor wants to start me. What are the side effects to taking this long term?

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If you've been dealing with trouble sleeping—whether it's falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a science-backed treatment that's worth knowing about.

Unlike sleep medications, which often only offer short-term relief, CBT-I works by addressing the underlying thoughts and behaviors that keep you from getting restful sleep. It’s considered the gold standard treatment for chronic insomnia and has shown long-lasting results for many people.

CBT-I is a structured, short-term therapy that usually takes place over 6–8 sessions, either in person or online. It combines several techniques:

• Cognitive restructuring – Helps you identify and reframe negative or unrealistic thoughts about sleep (e.g., “If I don’t fall asleep right now, tomorrow will be a disaster”).

• Stimulus control – Teaches you to only associate your bed with sleep—so no scrolling, watching TV, or working in bed.

• Sleep restriction – Temporarily limits your time in bed to match how much you’re actually sleeping, helping consolidate sleep and improve quality.

• Relaxation techniques – Includes breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and other methods to help calm your mind and body.

• Sleep hygiene education – Covers healthy sleep habits like keeping a regular schedule, avoiding caffeine late in the day, and making your bedroom a good environment for sleep.

Why it works

CBT-I doesn’t just mask the problem—it helps retrain your brain and body for better sleep. It’s effective for many types of insomnia, including long-term sleep issues, and its benefits tend to stick around even after the therapy ends.

How to get started

You can find CBT-I through licensed therapists, sleep clinics, or even online programs and apps. It’s supported by organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Foundation, and many health professionals now recommend it as a first-line treatment for insomnia.

It basically explains how protests have historically played a big role in driving political and social change. For example, the 1963 March on Washington—where over 250,000 people showed up—helped lead to major legislation like the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. So, protests aren’t just symbolic; they’ve actually pushed forward real policy changes.

More recently, the article highlights the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 after George Floyd’s death. Those demonstrations sparked national conversations and even led to some concrete reforms—like changes in policing policies and companies making serious commitments to racial equity.

One of the key takeaways is that protests are most effective when they’re well-organized, have clear goals, and are tied to things like voter mobilization. It’s not just about making noise—it’s about creating pressure that leads to long-term change.

It also points out that the political response to protests often depends on which party is in power at different levels of government, which adds another layer to how protests influence policy.

Overall, the article makes a strong case that protests, when done strategically, can be a powerful tool for change in the U.S.

The power of protest in the US