全文: Natural Medicines in the Clinical Management of Insomnia
部分節選如下:
For millions of people, insomnia is more than an occasional annoyance. It's a persistent problem with potentially serious consequences. Insomnia costs the US and Canada over $100 billion annually in lost productivity and medical expenses. Insomnia also increases the risk of automobile accidents. About 100,000 car accidents and 1,500 deaths annually are attributed to drowsiness. Some experts believe that insomnia is as often to blame for car accidents as drunk driving.
Chronic insomnia can also lead to poor or worsening health in general including depression, headaches, heart disease, and substance abuse.
Patients typically have one of four types of insomnia: 1) difficulty falling asleep; 2) difficulty maintaining sleep; 3) early morning awakening; or 4) unrefreshing sleep. All types can cause daytime sleepiness and potentially decrease productivity and increase the risk of accidents, etc.
Insomnia is often a symptom of another underlying condition or situation. Insomnia is frequently situational, caused by things like jet lag, shift work, or stress. It can also be caused by poor sleep habits, drinking alcohol, or by use of stimulants such as caffeine or other drugs. Certain medical conditions can also cause insomnia. Management of these underlying conditions will often relieve insomnia.
造成失眠的常見原因:
| Common Underlying Causes of Insomnia* | |
| Situational Causes | |
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| Medical Conditions | |
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| Drugs | |
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| Natural Medicines | |
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*Note: Not a complete listing
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The elderly often complain of insomnia or are concerned that they aren't sleeping enough. It is true that as we get older, we tend to need less sleep than when we were younger. Explain to elderly patients that as long as they feel refreshed when they get up in the morning, they are likely getting enough sleep.
On the other hand, elderly people often don't sleep well at night due to an underlying medical condition or medications. This group tends to have daytime drowsiness and they compensate with daytime naps. That sets up a cycle or conditioning that reinforces poor sleep at night.
Lots of patients, not just the elderly, develop insomnia due to this type of conditioning. Patients begin to associate the bed with insomnia or wakefulness. They might have no trouble at all falling asleep in the living room in front of the TV, but have difficulty getting to sleep in their bed.
常用的一些藥:
| Commonly Used Conventional and Natural Medicines for Insomnia* |
Sedative/Hypnotics
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Antidepressants
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Antihistamines
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Miscellaneous
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*Note: Many natural products are tried for insomnia, but very few have reliable evidence that they work. Inclusion in this list does NOT imply that these products are effective for insomnia.
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Improving sleep habits is a good first step for everyone with insomnia. But in some cases, improving sleep habits is not enough to break the cycle. Short-term drug therapy might be needed.
一些好的睡眠習慣:
| Good Sleep Habits |
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一段助人放鬆的睡眠音樂:
眠りたいのに眠れない人を眠りに誘う睡眠音楽【安眠・快眠・不眠症】
