Sleep disorders – The disease causes many health consequences

“The frequency of sleep disorders is increasing, causing serious consequences but still overlooked, not yet paid enough attention,” said Assoc.Prof.Dr. Le Khac Bao, Director of the Center for Medical Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Association of Sleep Medicine, said at the seminar organized by Tien Phong Newspaper, March 5.

According to the World Health Organization, about 30-45% of the global population encountered sleep problems at different levels. In Vietnam, a recent study showed that 30% of adults had sleep disorders, especially chronic insomnia.

Sleep disorders can impair perception, memory, and slow judgment. Patients are easily hallucinated, hyperactivity, and attention reduction. Unlike sleep will impair immunity, making the body susceptible to disease, bacterial infection, increased risk of cancer. Insomnia also increases the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, muscle pain, and obesity. Children insomnia will lead to slow growth, lower body heat.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Thu, Head of the sleeping medicine unit, 115 People’s Hospital, insomnia also increases the risk of labor accidents, transportation as well as reducing productivity the next day because of lack of alertness. This situation lasts a negative impact on the relationship in the family and society. Insomnia also increases the cost of treating co -diseases.

There are many “culprits” that cause sleep disorders, including external and inside body causes. In external factors, sleep hygiene is the most important, besides diet, living habits, environmental factors, night guard work, time zone difference … The internal factors leading to sleep disorders include genetic genes, high age, stress, medication, medical diseases.

According to Dr. Bui Chau Tue, Department of Neurology, Cho Ray Hospital, insomnia is when there is at least one of the symptoms including difficulty falling asleep (bald more than 30 minutes before sleeping), difficulty maintaining sleep (waking up many times in the night, difficulty sleeping again), waking up too early (waking up before needing to wake up and unable to sleep again), poor quality sleep does not help the body does not recover; Fatigue, concentration, anxiety, irritability during the day due to lack of sleep.

A person may have short -term insomnia, often due to stress or habitat changes. When insomnia lasts 3 months or more, may be due to unhealthy habits or pathological factors, called chronic insomnia.

Insomnia due to abuse of sleeping pills occur when using sleeping pills at the wrong dose, not according to the instructions of the doctor, thereby imbalance the natural sleep cycle. In addition, some people insomnia do not follow the treatment regimen, arbitrarily reduce the dose or stop the drug without a doctor’s prescription, leading to disorders in the sleep cycle.

“Many patients do not understand the importance of adhering to the dosage and treatment schedule, arbitrarily reducing the dose or stopping the drug when they feel better or when they see side effects, change the regimen or change the drug because they want to have faster results, cause more serious sleep disorders,” Dr. Tue said.

To improve, doctors recommend setting up healthy sleep habits. According to Associate Professor Bao, the bedroom is only used to sleep, not eating or working. Go to bed and wake up on time every day to create a habit for the body. Building a good sleeping environment with light, sound, scent, blanket, temperature, and ventilation. Do not smoke, do not use stimulants, avoid drinking alcohol, coffee in the afternoon and evening. Eat enough nutrients, avoid eating too full in the evening.

According to Dr. Tue, avoid using electronics at least 30 minutes before going to bed to reduce the effects of blue light. Relax by meditation, yoga or deep breathing exercises to reduce stress, help relax before sleeping. Listen to light music or use natural sound to create a relaxing space. Exercise regularly, but avoid exercising too much before sleeping.

“Some gym people at 11-12 o’clock at night, think good for health but in reality will cause insomnia, before sleeping needs to relax, reduce mental and physical activities,” the doctor said.

Going to the doctor when the symptoms of insomnia, sleepy day, there are abnormal events during sleep such as peeing, snoring, awakening, sleep apnea … Note when this situation lasts too long, such as insomnia for more than 3 months, affecting the quality of life, affecting the people around. The doctor will ask for the disease, clinical examination, and a multi -signing test if necessary. From there, the doctor will specify the appropriate treatment, for example, taking medicine, using CPAP breathing machine. Patients need to follow the doctor’s indications and do not arbitrarily abuse sleeping pills.