KUALA LUMPUR – Insomnia needs to be addressed because it has a negative impact, especially in terms of physical and mental health, affecting daily life, said Sunway Medical Center Clinical Psychologist, Sunway Bandar Michelle Chong Hui Yi.
He said insomnia is a disorder that will cause an individual to have difficulty falling asleep, difficulty falling asleep, frequent or easy awakening despite having enough time to sleep.
Insomnia also, he said, will affect feelings and emotions, cause anxiety and can even cause individuals who face the problem to suffer from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and stroke.
“Getting adequate and quality sleep is very important to ensure that an individual can rest his body and mind. Not having enough sleep or rest may cause individuals to experience fatigue during the day, easy blood pressure, moodiness and difficulty concentrating in daily activities,” he said in a statement here today.
Chong said based on DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) by American Psychiatric Associationindividuals can identify the problem of insomnia based on several symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, waking up early in the morning and not being able to go back to sleep or experiencing difficulty sleeping at least three nights per week for a period of at least three months despite having time enough to sleep.
“Symptoms of insomnia also include sleep disorders that are not caused by other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, breathing issues and so on and are not linked to physiological effects such as drug and medication abuse, in addition to mental disorders such as depression, anxiety or confusion are also symptoms of insomnia,” he said.
Chong said insomnia can occur among individuals of different ages such as children and teenagers, but it occurs more often among adults and is usually due to changes in sleep patterns and medication intake.
“In terms of gender, women are more prone to sleep disorders, this may be linked to hormonal changes, pregnancy, menopause and other factors,” he said.
Chong said several factors that contribute to the problem of sleep disorders include emotional and life stress as well as long-term stress that triggers a reaction that releases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol that increase the level of alertness.
He said excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol, irregular bedtimes and excessive use of electronic devices because blue light blocks the production of melatonin, which is a hormone that regulates sleep, can also cause insomnia.
Chong said there are several types of insomnia, including Short Term Insomnia, Chronic Insomnia, Insomnia Onset, Insomnia Maintenance and Comorbid Insomnia.
“Short Term Insomnia or acute insomnia is often caused by stress, illness or environmental factors and usually, the situation will continue for about three months and may develop into chronic insomnia if prolonged.
“Chronic insomnia is a long-term problem that occurs at least three times a week for more than three months, it can be caused by other health problems, psychological issues or lifestyle factors,” he said.
He said Onset of Insomnia described as difficulty falling asleep at night and usually taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep while Maintenance Insomnia occurs when an individual wakes up in the middle of the night and has difficulty falling back to sleep.
“Comorbid Insomnia also occur with medical conditions or other psychiatric-related factors, such as depression, anxiety or chronic pain,” he said.
In the meantime, Chong said insomnia can be treated through a non-pharmacological approach such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which is a treatment to change thoughts and behaviors that contribute to the problem of insomnia and that method has been found to be effective in terms of improving the quality and sleep duration.
He said individuals with insomnia can seek medical advice from a doctor who will refer them to a specialist, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, if necessary.
“In addition, it is suggested to change lifestyle such as adopting healthy sleeping habits, exercising regularly to release endorphin hormones and improve mental health, at the same time practicing activities or hobbies that can reduce stress,” he said. – Named