A 36 year old female patient working as a receptionist complains of difficulty in falling asleep. In addition, she normally wakes up at 2.00-3.00AM and cannot get back to sleep.
She started having sleeping problems after the delivery of her third child. On inquiry she revealed that she had a very difficulty pregnancy and was very tense during the last month. She could not concentrate on her work, and she worried that she may lose her job. Though she had consulted the company doctor who had prescribed her sleeping pills (triazolam).
These had helped her for a month but the sleep problem returned and her tension worsened.
➡ Should we talk about what happened to her.. Her specific problems was insomnia.
▶ What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep even when a person has the roomy opportunity and accessory environment.
▶ Who is at risk of insomnia
Insomnia is highly common in women more often than men. You can get the sleeping problem at any age but older adults are more likely to experience it.
▶ You are also at higher risk of insomnia if you have the following condition:
▪Too much of stress
▪Emotional distress or depression
▪Inactive lifestyle
▪Drug abuse
▪Travel long distance with time change
▶ Let's considered classification of Insomnia:
1⃣ Primary Insomnia: It could be as a result of excitement usually set up a cycle in which heightened physical arousal blocks sleep.
2⃣ Secondary Insomnia: Caused due to a medical problems, psychiatric, or environmental cause.
3⃣ Acute Insomnia: It happens because of life circumstances. For example, passing of a loved one.
4⃣ Chronic Insomnia: Is said to exist if disrupted sleep last for more than three weeks.
▶ Causes of Insomnia
◼Medical conditions: A patient with congestive heart failure, Stroke, Asthma, etc has the tendency to experience insomnia due to pain.
◼Mental health conditions such as mood disorders like bipolar affective disorder and depression can precipitate insomnia.
◼Environmental cause: If the person exposed to disturbance wave or any form of life-threatening events. Excessive use of stimulants such as caffeine, cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol, opioid can precipitate insomnia.
▶ How to Assess:
1⃣ Difficulty initiating sleep
2⃣ Difficulty maintaining sleep
3⃣ Waking up earlier than needed
4⃣ Decreased total hours of sleep
5⃣ Reduced productivity
6⃣ Poor concentration
7⃣ Disturbed coordination
8⃣ Drowsiness
➡ Considered these behavioral remedies of Insomnia:
Rather than using drugs (sleeping pills), it is often far better to learn behavioral techniques to treat insomnia.
◼The first thing that anyone suffering from insomnia should do is to reduce consumption of caffeine, alcohol and tobacco.
◼Avoid any activities that get you easily stimulated and upset late in the day.
◼Practice daily relaxation techniques at least 20 minutes before bedtime. This practice will aid sleep.
◼ Sleeping on a good mattress helps the muscle and nerves relax and also allow the body structure to maintain proper sleep.
◼ Always keep your bedroom peaceful and comfortable and maintain comfortable bedroom temperature while minimizing light and noise.
Do have a sounds sleep!
