Def: difficulty falling or maintaining sleep for atleast 3 times a week for atleast 3 months. Provided other sleep disorders are ruled out.Prevelance; atleast 6-10% of adults, mostly women Subtypes of Chronic Insomnia1. Psychophysiological – racing thoughts, heightened arousals, anxiety 2. Paradoxical Insomnia – perception of not sleeping, when all objective data says otherwise3. Insomnia… Continue reading →

Variety of tests exist to help diagnose sleep disorders, familarize yourself with them 1. Pulse OximetryOvernight pulse oximetry can help screen for potential Sleep breathing disordersOrganizations like Mayo Clinic use them for screening prior to sending for a consultI used them in the hospital prior to discharge on suspected casesIt calculates oxygen desturation index (ODI),… Continue reading →

Sleep is a state of psychomotor arrest with an increased arousal threshold and sensory disconnection from the environment.As humans we spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, and sleep is not merely a passive state of rest. Normal sleep comprises 2 major states; NREM Sleep and REM Sleep (~25%)NREM Sleep includes – stage 1 (5%), stage… Continue reading →