8.2.3 Sleep Disorders

Question 1

What is insomnia?

Answer 1

Condition where you have extreme difficulty in getting to sleep

Commonly caused by underlying psychiatric disorder as opposed to primary insomnia which is due to physical causes

Question 2

What is narcolepsy?

Answer 2

Rare disorder

Caused by mutations in the orexin gene, orexin is a peptide transmitter involved in sleep

More likely to be patient waking up due to sleep apnoea

Question 3

What is sleep apnoea?

Answer 3

Common condition

Excess neck fat leading to compression of airways during sleep and frequent waking

Leads to excessive daytime sleepniness