At a seminar on sleep disorders held recently, Dr Pham Cong Huan, of the Institute of Mental Health under Bach Mai Hospital, said doctors there received the patient, D, 40, from Hanoi, an introverted person who rarely shares feelings, who had once slept normally. 

However, after the job promotion and her child’s grade-10 entrance exam preparations, she fell into insomnia. Initially, she slept 4-5 hours nightly, tossing and turning. Despite the prolonged issue, she did not go to hospital for medical consultation, but self-medicated with brain supplements.

Three months before hospitalization, D’s condition worsened and she could sleep only 2-3 hours daily. She could not concentrate on work, became irritable, and her productivity dropped. After briefly using sleep disorder medication, she stopped, worsening her insomnia and intensifying bedtime fear.

Upon hospital admission, tests showed no physical abnormalities, but psychological evaluation diagnosed her with sleep disorder and anxiety. After two weeks of inpatient treatment with medication and therapy, D. improved significantly, sleeping 4-5 hours daily, feeling less fatigued, and regaining mental stability.

Another case involved a 42-year-old female patient experiencing leg discomfort at bedtime, described as “ants crawling in her legs,” preventing sleep. Doctors suspected Restless Legs Syndrome, a disorder common in women and increasing with age, requiring specialized examination to identify causes.

Dr Doan Thi Hue said sleep disorders affect sleep quality, duration, and quantity, causing daytime fatigue and impaired function. These often accompany physical or mental health issues like depression, anxiety, or cognitive disorders.

Maurice’s 2011 study found nearly one-third of the population complains of insomnia, but only 6-15 percent receive formal diagnoses. In Vietnam, about 80 percent of patients at the Institute of Mental Health have sleep disorders due to stress, with 5-6.7 percent experiencing severe insomnia linked to depression or anxiety.

Insomnia not only causes fatigue but also severely impacts health. Those affected face higher risks of hypertension, arrhythmias, acute coronary syndrome, weakened immunity, and even increased chances of breast or colorectal cancer. Insomnia also disrupts hormone balance, raising type 2 diabetes risk.

Dr Hue noted that unhealthy lifestyles are the primary cause of rising insomnia rates. Notably, using phones before bed disrupts sleep due to blue light affecting circadian rhythms.

Insomnia is diagnosed when it occurs at least three days a week, lasts over three months, and isn’t caused by stimulants or other mental disorders.

For effective treatment, doctors recommend long-term adherence to prescribed regimens, combining medication and therapy, rather than self-purchasing sleeping pills.

People should adopt healthy habits, limit electronic device use before bed, maintain consistent sleep schedules, and create a comfortable sleeping environment.

Vo Thu