Soltalk November 2019 | Page 42

HealthTalk
Doctor’s notes
Dr Rik Heymans is a general practitioner in Nerja and writes
on developments in the world of medicine
Who should get the flu vaccine?
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These are the priority groups for vaccination:
Children under 5 years of age (especially those under 2 years
of age)
Adults 65 years of age and older
Adults and children who have chronic medical conditions
such as chronic pulmonary diseases (including asthma),
cardiovascular (excluding isolated hypertension), renal,
hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders
(including diabetes mellitus)
People who are immunocompromised, with immun-
osuppression caused by medications chemotherapy, or HIV
infection
Pregnant and postpartum women
Children and adolescents (aged 6 months through 18 years)
who are receiving aspirin- or salicylate-containing
medications
Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care
facilities
People who are extremely obese (body mass index of 40 or
greater for adults)
Healthcare personnel
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Household contacts and caregivers of children under five
years of age and adults 50 years of age and older
Household contacts and caregivers of persons with medical
conditions that put them at increased risk for severe illness
and complications from influenza.
Insomnia
Insomnia is defined as having regularly difficulty with falling
asleep, maintaining sleep, consolidation, or having a poor
quality of sleep, that occurs despite adequate time and
opportunity for sleep, and that results in some form of
daytime impairment. Various worldwide studies have shown a
prevalence as high as 50%-60%.
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The consequences of insomnia are often serious and include
depression, decreased performance at work or school, motor
vehicle collisions, and decreased overall quality of life. Patients
with insomnia should undergo a careful medication history,
without forgetting drugs that commonly cause insomnia. Also,
A diagnosis of insomnia does increase the future risk for
depression, as mentioned earlier, and even anxiety.
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Insomnia may be secondary to other medical disorders or
conditions as well, such as obstructive sleep apnoea, restless
legs syndrome, or circadian rhythm disorders. Women are
more likely than men to report insomnia symptoms.
Chronic insomnia increases in frequency with age and is
therefore more common in the elderly. Greater psychosocial
stressors, losses, and medical illnesses may contribute to the
increased incidence of insomnia with age.
Sedative-hypnotic medications do not usually cure insomnia,
but they can provide symptomatic relief, often as an adjunct
with counselling. Some patients cannot adhere to or do not
respond to counselling and are also candidates for these drugs.
© Dr RIK HEYMANS
c/ Angustias 24, Nerja
Tel: [phone]
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