Contenido:

INSOMNIA

By insomnia we mean the difficulties patients and healthy people have for an easy start,
maintenance and duration of sleep.

Total sleep time is different from one person to the Siguiente, depending on their physical activity, age, etc. We call insomnia when sleep time is less than six hours per day on a regular basis.

Insomnia may be due to:

• Physical disorders: diseases which cause cough, fever, dyspnoea (respiratory difficulty), itching, vomiting, etc.
• Substance abuse or withdrawal: alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, sedatives.
• Psychic diseases or stress: anxiety, family or work related problems, bereavement, etc.

Patients with insomnia suffer from sleepiness while at work, irritability, fatigue and loss of attention and concentration, which makes them different when compared with people who only need a few hours of sleep.

Insomnia treatment varies according to its cause, requiring a medical assessment of the patient. However, a series of measures may improve the problem:

• Sleep long enough but not too much.
• Have fixed hours for going to bed and waking up.
• Create an adequate environment within the cabin and bunk bed, trying to keep an adequate temperature (neither too hot nor too cold); avoiding strong noises; comfortable sprung bed base, mattress and pillow, but not necessarily soft, etc.
• Do not go to bed hungry or thirsty; drinking a lukewarm glass of milk may help to sleep.
• Practice regular exercise during daytime as it enhances sleep, whereas intense sporadic exercise has the opposite effect.
• Avoid naps or nodding; do not use the bed to remain lying awake.
• Large meals may alter sleep; avoid drinking in excess before sleeping.
• Regular smoking causes sleep alterations.
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, cola drinks), especially in the hours just before resting.
• Avoid alcohol in excess, as even though it causes sleepiness, sleep is fragmented.
• Do not try too hard to sleep; if unable to sleep easily, it is better to get up and do an activity, which does not require concentration.
• Hypnotics (sleeping tablets) may be used occasionally. Their use is justified to treat an acute problem, but their continuous use should be avoided; always do it under medical supervision. In this case, ask for MEDICAL ADVICE VIA RADIO .