Insomnia Flashcards
When is your brain the most metabolically active?
While sleeping (less traffic)
What is REM sleep characterized by?
Increased respiration rate and brain activity
What is the respiration cycle during sleep?
Lower respiration during non-REM and increased respiration during REM sleep cycle
Does sleep progress systematically through stages 1-5?
No, it starts out sequentially but then it cycles through the stages in and out-of-sequence progression
With each cycle, does REM sleep periods get longer or shorter?
Longer
What is secondary insomnia caused by?
Most commonly another health condition (mental health issues)
What are the causes of primary insomnia?
Not linked to any other health condition - stress, environment, or sleep schedule changes
What tests can be done when diagnosing or working up insomnia?
Sleep diary
Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Polysomnogram
Actigraphy
Mental health evaluation
What is the best prevention for insomnia?
Routine (go to sleep at the same time each night, arise the same time in the morning)
What is important when selecting a medication to treat insomnia?
What the patients difficulty with sleep is - if it is initiation or maintenance
Medications to treat initiation insomnia
Eszopicione (Lunesta) - best
Ramelteon (Rozerem)
Zolpidem (Ambien)
Medications to treat maintenance insomnia
Doxepin (Silenor)
What is cataplexy?
Sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by intense emotions
