Lecture at Asa Norte Regional Hospital discusses sleep disorders

To mark World Sleep Day, celebrated this Friday (15), the Hospital Regional da Asa Norte (Hran), in partnership with the Brazilian Sleep Association (ABS), brought together experts to discuss the topic Sleep for everyone: sleeping is good.

Professionals warned about the importance of noticing signs that prevent the body from resting, such as respiratory problems. “It is essential that people reflect on the quality of their sleep, recognizing the signs of a poor night’s sleep, such as a lack of restful sleep, the feeling of tiredness upon waking up and the perception of poor performance in activities”, explains the president of the regional ABS Federal District, Paulo Marsiglio Neto.

Participants received informative material and attended mini-lectures, in which psychiatrists, neurologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, dentists, among others, addressed issues related to sleep-disordered breathing, such as insomnia and obstructive apnea.

“Addressing these issues that are so common in today’s society and disseminating information not only promotes quality of life, but also prevents the risk of diseases associated with untreated disorders, such as cardiovascular problems and strokes”, says sleep specialist, Anderson Albuquerque.

Retired Matilde da Silva, 66 years old, suffers from insomnia and took advantage of the free event, open to the public, to seek guidance. “Not sleeping causes me a lot of headaches, my blood pressure goes up, I feel irritable and unwell throughout the day. I need this knowledge to have a good quality of life,” she acknowledges.

A patient at the Hran sleep clinic, self-employed Angelina Aparecida Santos, 57, deals with apnea, a disorder that affects breathing, causing the person to stop breathing one or more times during a single night’s sleep. “Adequate information helps us to efficiently treat our sleep health”, she assesses.

Specialized assistance

Hran is a reference in the DF and has an outpatient clinic dedicated to treating sleep disorders. Polysomnography is the main exam performed. With an expanded structure in 2023, the facility has five rooms with blackout curtains and acoustic insulation to ensure patients’ comfort during the exam.

An average of 600 polysomnograms are performed per year. The procedure consists of applying a set of electrodes and sensors to the patient’s body to monitor them while they sleep. The devices record various responses from the body, such as brain activity, eye movements and the electrical activity of nerves and muscles.

*With information from the Department of Health