Health
Understanding Insomnia And Its Consequences
Insomia is a sleep disorder characterised by the inability to
obtain an adequate amount or quality of sleep. The inability can be in falling asleep or both. People with insomnia do not feel refreshed when they wake up. Insomnia is probably one of man’s most common complaints that may be caused by many conditions, diseases or circumstances. However, there are many types of insomnia, one of which is in primary form.
Primary insomnia is when a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem. It is often caused by a temporary situation in a person’s life, such as an argument with a loved one or jetlag. Also lack of nutrients like calcium and magnesium can cause one to wake up after a few hours and not be able to return to sleep, and this situation results from eating close to bed time. When the situation is resolved or the precipitating factor disappears, the condition goes away, usually without any treatment. Insomnia can also vary in terms of duration and how often it occurs. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic insomnia (long-term). Acute insomnia can last from one night to a few days. Insomnia is called chronic when a person has sleeplessness at least three nights a week for a month or longer.
Most people suffer from acute insomnia when faced with a particular situation that causes them anxiety or great excitement. Significant life stress such as change/loss of job, divorce, death of a loved one, moving to a new town, financial situations, may all affect sleep. Environmental factors like noise, light or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) also cause acute insomnia. Interference in normal sleep schedule (switching from a day to night shift), for example and alcohol and drug abuse also interfere with natural sleep cycles.
In chronic insomnia, pain or discomfort at night, chronic stress and many of the systemic disorders already mentioned are causative factors. Generally, people with insomnia have one or more of the following symptoms: (a) difficulty in falling asleep (b) waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep (c) sleepy during the day, (d) waking up too early in the morning, (e) problems with concentration or memory, (f) feeling tired upon waking and general weaknesses and (g) irritability
Just as many factors give rise to insomnia, so also are the consequences of sleep disorder. Decreased ability to perform creative or repetitive tasks, deterioration in overall performance can even result in mild personality changes. If chronic, inadequate sleep compromises productivity, creates problems in relationship and can contribute to many health problems, already mentioned.
A lot of money is thus spent on sleeping pills, special beds, and a variety of mechanical gadgets to aid in sleeping.
However, there are things that can enhance sleep without using sleeping pills. Primary of such things is, lettuce. Lettuce is beneficial in the treatment of insomnia as it contains a sleep-inducing substance called ‘letucerium.’ The juice of this vegetable has been likened in effect to the sedative action of opium without the accompanying excitement. A ¼ tumbler is taken preferably 30-60 minutes before bedtime. 0.25 grams of the root powder is mixed with warm water and taken once daily. In chronic conditions, taking such mixture two times a day, till symptoms are cleared is advised.
Honey induces sleep. It should be taken with water, before going to bed. Take 1-2 tablespoon in a cup of water. Other factors that can enhance sleep include making ones bedroom comfortable. Be sure that it is dark, quiet and not too warm or too cold. Remove every source of distraction like noise, light. Instead of pills, follow a routine to help you relax before sleep. Read a book, listen to music, or take a bath.
Avoid using over-the-counter sleepy pills for insomnia, because they may have undesired side effects and tend to lose their effectiveness with time. It is also important to practice good sleeping habits. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and get up the same time each morning. Also try not to take naps during the day, because naps may make you less sleepy at night.
Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants that can keep one from falling asleep. Alcohol can also cause waking in the night and interferes with sleep quality. Avoid eating a heavy meal later in the night. A light snack before bedtime, however, may help you sleep.
Get regular exercise but try not to do so close to bedtime, because it may stimulate you and make it hard to fall asleep.
Osuji is a medical student of Abia State University, Uturu.
Priscillia Osuji
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.