Secondary Causes of Insomnia

Secondary Causes of Insomnia
Insomnia is defined as difficulty falling or staying asleep, or the complaint of unrestorative/unrefreshing sleep. Most people experience short-term insomnia from time to time, but when insomnia lasts for more than several weeks, it is considered chronic and should be evaluated by a physician. Insomnia used to be classified by sleep specialists as either primary or secondary insomnia. Secondary insomnia was insomnia that was due to an...

Neck Size May Affect Severity of Sleep Apnea
Title: Neck Size May Affect Severity of Sleep Apnea
Category: Health News
Created: 6/11/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2009

S.A.D. and Circadian Rhythms
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”   - Anne Bradstreet, British poet   It’s that time of the year again.  Especially for those of us not fortunate enough to live in warmer climes- the winter is coming.  As we all know, along with the season comes shorter days and longer nights.  Some of us may...

The Basics of CPAP
 Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Except for tracheotomy, it is also the most effective treatment for OSA. CPAP is basically a computerized air pump that delivers pressurized air through a hose and then through a nasal interface into the patient's throat. The pressurized air splints open the upper airways, preventing the airflow pauses (apneas) and airflow...

Heart Association Warns of Surgery Risks in Obese
Title: Heart Association Warns of Surgery Risks in Obese
Category: Health News
Created: 6/16/2009 7:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 6/16/2009

Secondary Insomnia and the Drugs Used To Treat It
I previously posted about the diagnosis of insomnia, the difference between primary and secondary/comorbid insomnia, and the importance of evaluating for and treating any underlying causes of insomnia. I encourage you to read my Secondary Insomnia post before reading any more of this post. Today I will be talking more about medication treatment options for secondary (comorbid) insomnia. Although persons with primary insomnia (insomnia not...