Ample sleep considered key to healthy and balanced life

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Rise up to a beautiful day. March 15 is “World Sleep Day.” Everyone must and should get sufficient rest through sleep everyday.

For NMC Royal Hospital/NMC Specialty Hospital-Dubai Investments Park Pulmonology specialist Dr. Gopal Chawla and Medcare Hospital-Al Safa pulmonologist Dr. Fabrizio Facchini, society must embrace sleep equity as all have the right to sufficient rest through sleep.

Chawla said: “Sleep, often overshadowed, stands as the cornerstone of a healthy and balanced life. Constituting one-third of our existence, its quality and hygiene are vital yet often neglected aspects, frequently overshadowed by a focus solely on sleep duration. Sleep health promotion is an under-recognised public health opportunity with implications for a wide range of critical outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, mental health, and neurodegenerative disease.”

Medcare Hospital-Al Safa said: “Inadequate sleep reduces efficiency, favours mood depression and makes people less tolerant to co-workers and family members.

Good quality sleep is therefore relevant, especially for those requiring a sharp mind and taking critical decisions.”

He cited as examples the air traffic controller, professional drivers and world leaders.

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On the other hand, the search for the most recent worldwide rates on sleeplessness led this reporter to the Helsestart website wherein in the “Global Insomnia Statistics in 2022 & 2024” for the years 2021 and 2023, researchers, were able to identify the Top 10 plagued by the inability to sleep disorder, insomnia.

They utilised a special formula per 100,000 in the countries with un-restrictive search engine regulations: Japan (54/100,0000), Taiwan (39/100,000), Sweden (37/100,000), Thailand (30/100,000), UK (22/100,000), Ireland (22/100,000), Norway (18,100,000), New Zealand (18/100,000), Singapore (16/100,000), and Australia (15/100,000).

The Top 10 where the insomniacs are determined to move away from their condition, as reflected on their googled platforms such as the Melatonin include the Scandinavian states with Norway (520/100,000) and Sweden (453/100,000) as first and second. Denmark (295/100,000) and Finland (241/100,000) are fifth and sixth. Australia is third (318/100,000) followed by Chile (316/100,000). Iceland (226/100,000), Singapore (214/100,000), New Zealand (207/100,000), and Ireland (192/100,000) rounded up the last four.

Chawla explained the 2024 theme “Sleep Equity for Global Health,” decided on by the over 12,000-strong World Sleep Society, established in 2016 by the World Sleep Federation and the World Association of Sleep Medicine: “It is aimed at ensuring that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has access to sufficient and high-quality sleep. It acknowledges the disparities in sleep health experienced by different groups, such as the poor, individuals in conflict zones, the sick and the shift workers. By addressing these discrepancies, we strive for a more equitable distribution of sleep resources and ultimately improve public health outcomes.”

“The impact can be significant. For example, shift workers often experience disruptions in their circadian rhythms due to irregular work schedules leading to various health issues such as depression, mood disturbances, insomnia,” Chawla also said.

Because of the lack of sleep, the metabolic disorders of excessive cholesterol and triglycerides, and diabetes that may lead to the hardening of the arteries and stroke become ordinary.

The scenario worsens with sleep disorders, another example of which is sleep apnoea - the “pauses in breathing during sleep,” often accompanied by the disturbing “loud snoring and daytime sleepiness” that exacerbates hypertension, diabetes and stroke.”

Faccini said: “Snoring is not considered a disease. But, it is the first step towards obstructive sleep apnoea. All patients with (this condition) are snorers but not all snorers (suffer from it).”

Let go of alcohol, tobacco and its variants, sedatives. Those who have issues regarding irregular sleeping patterns, lack of exercise, fatigue, dry mouth upon waking up, morning dizziness, hypertension, excessive daytime sleepiness and lack of attention “must see a pulmonologist” for the appropriate tests.

Chawla presented two successful cases. A 35-year-old school teacher underwent Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy to overcome her “excessive snoring, daytime sleepiness and unexplained weight gain. She slimmed down in no time and have been enjoying “increased energy levels.” A hypertensive man was screened through a “sleep study” of “light to severe sleep apnoea.” His uncontrolled high blood pressure was resolved.