Insomnia headache: The obsession of the elderly

This is an automatically translated article.

This article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Bui Ngoc Phuong Hoa - General Internal Medicine - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.
Headaches and insomnia have a significant impact on the health of the elderly, greatly reducing the quality of life.

1. Learn about headaches in the elderly

Headache is a common medical condition that affects people of all ages, with many causes. Headache in the elderly also has many causes, but the two most common causes are headache after cerebrovascular accident and headache due to cerebral circulatory insufficiency.
Elderly people are prone to cerebrovascular accidents, in addition to common sequelae such as mouth distortion, difficulty speaking, reduced mobility, etc., headaches are also common sequelae. Elderly people will feel migraine or pain in the entire head area, even pain like a needle in the head.
In the case of headaches due to cerebral circulatory insufficiency, in addition to headache symptoms, the elderly will see typical symptoms such as: fatigue, dizziness, dizziness, temporary loss of balance, ...

The time of day sleep varies with age, younger children sleep more while older people sleep less and have difficulty sleeping. Scientific studies have found that insomnia in the elderly is clearly associated with a decrease in the secretion of the hormone Melatonin - which plays a role in regulating the sleep-wake rhythm.
Normal human physiology Melatonin is secreted from birth, from the age of 15, it begins to decrease, after the age of 45, it declines very quickly, and by the age of 80, the amount of Melatonin is only at a minimum.
In fact, the majority of elderly people often complain about sleep, most of them are restless, not drunk, sleep is interrupted many times, when they wake up, they feel uncomfortable and sluggish. Sleep, which is already significantly affected by age, plus headaches and insomnia, will certainly affect the health of the elderly, and the quality of life will be severely reduced.

2. Some methods to limit headaches in the elderly

Headaches in the elderly can be limited by the following methods:
Reasonable nutrition: regularly maintain 3 meals a day in combination with a balanced diet, reasonable food composition, for people with Chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, overweight/obesity, dyslipidemia, etc.) need to follow a separate diet prescribed by a doctor. Regular exercise: Elderly people need to exercise regularly to exercise health and improve the body's resistance, moreover, regular exercise also has a relaxing effect on the spirit, bringing a sense of well-being. positive effects for the elderly and limit the occurrence of headaches. Relax, rest: the elderly need to be cared for, mentally cared for, shared and talked to to maintain psychological comfort, joy, optimism, avoid stress, anxiety, sad, overly emotional.

3. What to do when the elderly have headaches and insomnia?

Although headache is a common problem, it has many causes, including dangerous diseases, which can be life-threatening. If you experience a persistent headache or a severe headache, the headache is getting worse, you should immediately take the elderly to a neurologist to examine and find the cause as well as give timely and appropriate treatment. .
Department of Examination and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital is equipped with modern equipment and a team of experienced professionals in the examination, diagnosis and interventional treatment of neurological diseases. - Stroke, treatment of migraine, cerebral ischemia,...
Specialist II Le Nghiem Bao - Deputy Head of General Surgery Department - Vinmec Danang International Hospital, with more than 30 Years of experience in neurosurgery. MSc.BS Bui Ngoc Phuong Hoa - Internal Medicine Neurologist- Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang, with more than 26 years working in the field of neuropsychiatry. Strengths of neurology: Belongs to clinical medicine, hold specialized functions in the examination and treatment of diseases related to the central nervous system (cranial, meningeal, brain, cerebrovascular , nerves in the skull, pituitary gland, spine, discs, spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (the nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord).

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