Insomnia Flashcards
1
Q
What is insomnia?
A
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
2
Q
What are the types of insomnia?
A
- Transient insomnia — Less than one month
- Short-term insomnia — Between one and six months
- Chronic insomnia — More than six months
3
Q
What are some secondary causes of insomnia?
A
- Anxiety/depression
- Physical health problems (e.g. pain, dyspnoea)
- Obstructive sleep apnoea (risk increased if BMI ≥30 or neck circumference ≥40cm)
- Excess alcohol or illicit drugs
- Parasomnias (e.g. restless legs, sleep walking/talking/sleep terrors/teeth grinding)
- Circadian rhythm disorder (especially in shift workers)
4
Q
What are the investigations used for diagnosing insomnia?
A
- Clinical diagnosis
- Sleep diary
- Actigraphy
- Polysomnography
5
Q
What is actigraphy?
A
A sensor that looks at periods of rest and activity to measure how well you sleep.
6
Q
What does polysomnography record?
A
Brain waves, oxygen in blood, heart rate, and breathing during sleep.
7
Q
What are some tips to improve sleep hygiene?
A
- Avoid stimulating activities before bed
- Avoid alcohol/caffeine/smoking before bed
- Avoid heavy meals or strenuous exercise before bed
- Regular daytime exercise
- Same bedtime each day
- Ensure bedroom environment promotes sleep
- Relaxation techniques
8
Q
What pharmacological treatments are available for insomnia?
A
- Melatonin (licensed for >55 yrs for short-term insomnia)
- Hypnotics (Z-Drugs like zolpidem, zopiclone or Benzodiazepines like temazepam) licensed for severe disabling insomnia
9
Q
Fill in the blank: Transient insomnia lasts for _______.
A
Less than one month.
10
Q
True or False: Chronic insomnia lasts more than six months.
A
True.
