The Medical journal of Australia
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Insomnia is common and can have serious consequences, such as increased risk of depression and hypertension. Acute and chronic insomnia require different management approaches. >Chronic insomnia is unlikely to spontaneously remit, and over time will be characterised by cycles of relapse and remission or persistent symptoms. Chronic insomnia is best managed using non-drug strategies such as cognitive behaviour therapy. For patients with ongoing symptoms, there may be a role for adjunctive use of medications such as hypnotics.
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About 1.5 million Australians are shift workers. Shift work is associated with adverse health, safety and performance outcomes. Circadian rhythm misalignment, inadequate and poor-quality sleep, and sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, insomnia and shift work disorder (excessive sleepiness and/or insomnia temporally associated with the work schedule) contribute to these associations. ⋯ Short naps, which minimise sleep inertia, are generally effective. Shifting the circadian pacemaker with appropriately timed melatonin and/or bright light may be used to facilitate adjustment to a shift work schedule in some situations, such as a long sequence of night work. It is important to manage the health risk of shift workers by minimising vascular risk factors through dietary and other lifestyle approaches.
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Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a potential cause of systemic hypertension in young and middle-aged people, and treatment helps reduce blood pressure in some patients. Severe OSA (apnoea-hypopnoea index [AHI] > 30/h) is strongly associated with increased mortality, stroke and cardiovascular disease in middle-aged populations. The cardiovascular risk from moderate OSA (AHI, 15-30/h) is uncertain, particularly if the oxygen desaturation index is low, although the data suggest an increased risk for stroke (particularly in men). ⋯ Current, ongoing randomised controlled trials will inform whether OSA is a reversible cardiovascular risk factor within the next 5 years. Patients with cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity or poorly controlled hypertension are at high risk of OSA and should be questioned for symptoms of OSA, which, if present, may warrant further investigation and treatment. Weight loss has an unpredictable effect on OSA severity, but is independently beneficial for symptoms and metabolic health in OSA patients and is recommended for all overweight and obese OSA patients.