Liow: Don’t brush off insomnia as stress

The Star KUALA LUMPUR: If you are having problems sleeping more than three nights a week for more than a month and it comes with chest pain and shortness of breath, it is best to consult a doctor.

In issuing this advice, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said people who had sleep problems or disorders should get diagnosed and their problems addressed for better health and quality of life.

He said there were 20 sleep laboratories in government hospitals and a few in the private sector throughout the country that helped diagnose the problem.

“If you have sleep problems that are prolonged, get checked by a doctor to rule out serious diseases before you brush it off as due to stress,” he said at a press conference after the 2012 World Sleep Day opening ceremony yesterday where the longest single spring mattress, measuring 28.83m, was displayed.

The ceremony was held in conjunction with World Sleep Day which fell on Friday this year.

At a press conference later, Liow said a sleep laboratory was meant to diagnose people with sleep problems and they would be required to spend a night in the hospital to be monitored.

Liow said 14% of adults suffered from insomnia.

Some “not-so-serious” causes of sleeplessness were old age, jet lag, poor sleeping environment, anxiety while serious causes include depression, alcoholism, hyperthyroidism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Liow said the ministry was also looking into the possibility of getting commercial vehicle drivers to go for sleep tests so that they could be helped if they have any sleep disorders and not pose a danger on the road.

“We will discuss this with the Transport Ministry and assess the need for it,” he said.