Sleepless Tropical Nights, What to Do About Insomnia?

If Summer's Representative Disease Insomnia Persists, Treatment Is Necessary

Many people suffer from insomnia during tropical nights. Persistent insomnia is a medical condition, so it is advisable to seek a professional diagnosis. [Image source=Clipart Korea]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Insomnia is a representative disease that frequently occurs during tropical nights when the heatwave that heated up the daytime does not subside until night.

The medical community considers severe insomnia caused by the heatwave to be a condition that requires treatment.

A tropical night refers to a day when the minimum temperature from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day is 25°C or higher. According to the Busan Meteorological Office, the 2nd was the first tropical night in the Busan area.

During summer, when the temperature far exceeds the optimal sleep temperature of 18?20°C, the sleeping environment changes, making it difficult for people who previously did not have insomnia to fall asleep easily, and symptoms can worsen for those who usually suffer from insomnia.

Insomnia is a representative sleep disorder characterized by the inability to fall asleep despite wanting to sleep at night. Insufficient sleep can cause fatigue, drowsiness, and loss of motivation during the day, interfering with daily life and lowering quality of life.

The fundamental prevention and treatment of insomnia involve establishing lifestyle habits that allow normal sleep, such as setting fixed wake-up and sleep times without deviating more than two hours, and avoiding naps as much as possible.

For sound sleep, body temperature needs to drop by about 1 degree from usual. Taking a cold shower before bed may feel temporarily refreshing but constricts skin blood vessels, preventing body temperature from dropping, so it is better to shower with lukewarm water.

Running the air conditioner all night because of the heat can dry out the respiratory tract and disturb deep sleep, so it is advisable to set a timer to operate it minimally. Fans should be set to rotate so that the wind does not blow directly on the body.

Bedding such as blankets should be replaced with breathable summer types, and the bedroom should be used solely as a space for sleeping. Avoid using smartphones, reading, or watching TV 30 minutes before sleep, and if you cannot fall asleep, it is better to do another activity briefly rather than forcing yourself to sleep.

Also, foods and drinks that promote diuresis such as watermelon, caffeinated beverages with stimulating effects, and cigarettes interfere with deep sleep, so it is best not to consume them before bedtime.

Dr. Kim Jin-hyun, a psychiatrist at Daedong Hospital, said, “In summer, temporary insomnia can occur due to high temperatures such as heatwaves or tropical nights,” adding, “If symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings, or difficulty falling back asleep after waking persist for more than a month, it is better to get a diagnosis from a specialist rather than blaming the weather and neglecting it.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.