Lack
of sleep is common in India, and many people don't even realise they're
sleep deprived. A survey last year said that as many as a third of
working people had to sacrifice sleep to meet various commitments in
life.
"Most people suffering from sleep deprivation don't
realise it," says Dr Manvir Bhatia (Director of Neurology and Sleep
Centre, and Chairperson of the Department of Sleep Medicine at Sir Ganga
Ram Hospital in Delhi). She says many of her patients seek medical
advice when symptoms of sleep deprivation, such as high blood pressure
or heart problems, develop. The most common case is partners and spouses
getting disturbed sleep at night, which might lead to people realising
something is wrong. Here are the five most common causes of sleep
deprivation in India:
HYPERACTIVITY
Some
people are just hyperactive and get anxious at the thought of sleeping,
notes Dr Bhatia. This condition is referred to as "hyper arousal
system," and anything from thoughts to normal events can trigger it,
resulting in insomnia. For example, thinking of pending work might make
you slightly worried, but the hyperactive person might not sleep through
the night. The treatment for this involves psychological interventions
to help the patient calm down, and also alternative therapies such as
yoga and meditation.
SLEEP APNEA
Sleep
apnea involves loud snoring and pauses in breathing. This can cause
increases in blood pressure, weight gain and heart problems. Often the
symptoms are also the cause. For instance, obesity leads to apnea.
Usually the patient is unaware of it unless their bed partner tells them
about it. Many patients continue to ignore it, as they believe snoring
is normal. "They maintain that everyone in their family snores, so there
is nothing wrong," says she. Around 120 million Indians have this
condition, and Dr Bhatia reckons that 80% of them are unaware of it. The
cure includes lifestyle changes, such as weight-loss exercises.
USE OF MOBILE DEVICES
Use of devices such as iPads and smartphones affects sleep, especially
for those who are already sleep deprived.Backlight from LCD screens,
including from television and laptops, can adversely affect sleep for
everyone. Reading a paperback book at bedtime works far better than
reading an e-book on your iPad.
SLEEPING TOO MUCH
In older people, the requirement of sleep might naturally be reduced.
But some people can't accept that, and take sleeping pills to sleep
longer. That results in a hangover-like feeling the next day, and
forgetfulness. Also, a person might not feel sleepy when they normally
should, and that in turn leads to sleep deprivation. Dr Bhatia
recommends not using pills at all, unless expressly recommended by a
sleep expert.
LOW AWARENESS
Many people
who come to Dr Bhatia for advice say that they thought snoring was
normal, even if their breathing was interrupted, or it was disturbing
their bed partners and other people in the house, so they didn't feel
the need to ask for medical advice. Others sought advice from general
physicians who agreed with them that nothing was amiss. Also, sleep
therapies are not covered by insurance, making the treatment more
expensive, particularly in cases of sleep apnea where the person needs
to use a mask.
Most importantly, it is necessary to act before
sleep deprivation leads to more serious conditions, such as heart issues
or obesity. Sleep well!
THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE
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