Rx Note

Introduction Insomnia can be broken down into difficulty in getting to sleep, difficulty staying sleep, early waking or feeling unsatisfied by sleep , despite adequate time and opportunity to sleep. Often a mixture of these can occur. These are associated with complaints of impaired daytime functioning, such as poor concentration and memory, mood disturbances and daytime tiredness. Etiology Insomnia may be caused by any factor that increases activity in arousal systems or decreases activity in sleep systems. NOTE: In older people, the total duration of sleep is shorter and there is less deep (stage 4) sleep. Moreover, older people may nap during the day and this reduces their sleep need at night even further. Referral to Doctor Cases of chronic insomnia (>4 weeks) are best referred to the doctor, as there is usually an underlying cause. NOTE: People with chronic insomnia are at higher risk of medical conditions (e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes , psychiatric disorders (e.g. d...