Introduction
Insomnia is one of the most common neurological symptoms among the patients who consult the Neurologist. Insomnia refers to difficulty in falling asleep, early awakening and waking up frequently at night. In the United States, a study showed that 30% of adults have insomnia. In other words, Insomnia is a very common and devastating medical disorder.
Right from the beginning, I have to emphasize that Insomnia is a problem which is usually uncontrollable – it is not intentional. No matter how tired patients feel at night (due to long period of working during day time), their brain simply just can’t “switch off” at night. Despite being physically and mentally very tired, they just can’t fall asleep – which is an irony.
Why is Insomnia important?
It is simply because Insomnia leads to a lot of complications.
Insomnia causes tiredness or lethargy during day time, resulting in poor quality of life and impaired work performance. If you can’t sleep well when you go overseas for holiday, you can’t enjoy the trip. If you don’t sleep well tonight, you will have a lot of stress when you wake up tomorrow morning, as you know that you will not be able to concentrate on your work tomorrow (especially if your boss is very demanding!).
In fact, for many people, the process of falling asleep itself is a very important source of stress – if I can’t have good sleep tonight, my condition will get worse tomorrow. How can I explain to my boss that I won’t be able to focus on my work tomorrow? As such, many people who have insomnia reveal that the period of 9 pm to 11 pm, is their most stressful moment in their daily life.
the process of falling asleep is often the most painful moment in a day.
SLEEPING REALLY HURTS
There is a unique and close relationship between Insomnia and Depression : Insomnia can lead to Depression, and Insomnia can also be a symptom of Depression.
Insomnia leads to higher risk of Stroke, Hypertension and Heart attack in the long run.
What are the causes of Insomnia?
Genetic Factor
Studies have shown that Insomnia can be inherited, especially if the patient’s mother has Insomnia. As such, some people have difficulty in falling asleep even when they do not have any form of stress.
Environmental Factor
Obviously, if your bed is not comfortable, or your home is located next to the main road, you won’t be able to sleep well. Or if you are having holiday overseas, you may find it difficult to fall asleep in the hotel.
Abnormal Lifestyle
Using handphone till midnight, drinking coffee or tea in the evening, eating supper and inadequate physical exercise can also lead to insomnia.
Occupational Factor
If you are adjusting to a new work schedule, especially shift work, you may find it difficult to fall asleep in the morning and work at night. The truth is that, even many doctors have Insomnia, as they have to respond to phone calls from the hospital at 3 am!
Emotional Disorders
These refer to Anxiety (excessive worrying and thinking), Depression (feeling low or sad) and work-related stress. Insomnia is actually a very common symptom in patient who have Depression or Anxiety. In fact, any form of stress such as financial or relationship problem can cause Insomnia. Overall, emotional disorders are the most common causes of Insomnia.
Neurological Disorders
Patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease are well-known to have Insomnia. Apart from difficulty in walking, Parkinson’s disease also affects the sleep process of patients, which is known as a non-motor manifestation of Parkinson’s disease.
When should a patient with Insomnia consult the Neurologist?
Patients are advised to urgently consult the Neurologist if their Insomnia affects their daily activities or quality of life. For example, a patient who is unable to work should seek medical treatment. Or students who have difficulty in coping with their studies should consult the Neurologist.
What will the Neurologist do for patients with Insomnia?
The Neurologist will perform physical examination, blood tests and CT / MRI brain scan. When necessary, the Neurologist will refer the patients to the Psychiatrist.
** Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik
** Image by freepik