Photo credit: Globo Website
After the incident involving actor Henri Castelli on Big Brother Brasil, he mentioned in an interview that he suffers from chronic insomnia. The condition is a sleep disorder that goes far beyond a bad night's sleep. According to pulmonologist and sleep medicine specialist Jessica Polese, the condition is characterized by a persistent difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep, or by early awakening, occurring at least three times a week for a period of three months or longer. “To talk about chronic insomnia, it is not enough to just sleep poorly. Insufficient or fragmented sleep generates impacts such as excessive fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and decreased performance at work or studies,” explains the specialist.
According to the doctor, many people believe that those with insomnia simply do not sleep, which is not always true. “In most cases, the patient does sleep for a few hours, but the sleep is superficial, fragmented, and non-restorative. This causes them to wake up feeling like they haven't rested, even after spending enough time in bed,” she states. This pattern, when repeated over time, leads to a series of physical and emotional consequences.
Chronic insomnia is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders such as obesity and dyslipidemia, and is also strongly related to mood disorders. “There is a very close relationship between insomnia, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. One problem ends up feeding the other, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without proper treatment,” emphasizes the doctor. She further explains that patients with anxiety often have more difficulty initiating sleep, while those with depression frequently experience early awakenings.
For treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended: It addresses the behaviors, thoughts, and negative associations that maintain insomnia and includes techniques such as: stimulus control, sleep restriction, relaxation techniques, and cognitive restructuring. “Several studies show that therapy is more effective and longer-lasting than the use of medications,” explains Jessica. Sleep medications should only be used in selected cases, for a limited time, and always under medical guidance.
Adopting good sleep hygiene is also recommended, always! Simple yet extremely effective habits, such as maintaining regular sleep and wake times, avoiding prolonged daytime naps, reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption at night, as well as screen time, and creating a suitable sleep environment, are still essential.
Regarding the seizures that the actor experienced, Jessica says that sleep deprivation may have been a trigger for the seizure, as well as sleep itself. “There are some types of seizures that occur during sleep because the patient is asleep, and the reasons need to be investigated,” she concludes.
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