Trouble sleeping? It happens to many people. And even more, in times of lockdown and confinement. “Insomnia is conditioned by individual and social factors”, says Dr. Frank Villarreal, Neurologist at our clinic and specialist in sleep disorders.

He explains that individual factors are linked to genetics, personal habits, and previous illnesses. Social factors are related to work hours, public transport, social expectations, availability of entertainment media, among others.

The specialist considers that confinement has been a determining factor for this disease. “Absolutely. Many sleep societies have pronounced about the particularities of sleep during the pandemic,” he refers.

The vortex of the deadly pandemic is leaving consequences on the family economy. Many people must face crises such as an unjustified layoff, assume personal debts, payment of rents and services, etc., problems that can trigger lack of sleep, due to constant tension.

“Unjustified layoff is a situation with a great impact on people’s mental health. In this case, insomnia will be an expected symptom. In these situations, special attention must be paid to major psychiatric symptoms that imply a great risk to the health of the affected persons”, underlines the Neurologist

Regarding the age when this disorder could occur, with a higher incidence, the specialist explains: “Sleep disorders vary according to the stage of life. In young adults, a sleep deprivation syndrome can be found, characterized as the voluntary omission of hours of sleep. On the contrary, in older adults, chronic insomnia or insomnia secondary to concomitant diseases is more frequently seen. It is also appropriate to mention the increase in other sleep disorders such as respiratory disorders and movement disorders during sleep.”

Keep in mind:

• Insomnia is defined as the sustained difficulty in falling and staying asleep, as well as sleep depth or quality.
• Having the advice of a specialist, from the beginning of the disorder, gives better possibilities of effective treatment and helps prevent its chronicity.
• The use of drugs, over the counter or not, should always be prescribed and monitored by a doctor familiar with the management of sleep disorders, concludes our specialist.

Dr. Frank Villarreal
Neurologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma

Source: Perú21 newspaper