By Dr Hirennappa B Udnur
Regular sleep is the path to a healthy future; this is a fact that is known all around the world. It is a fact that the more you sleep and the better you sleep, the healthier you are and in turn, the happier you are. In fact, did you know that there’s a day called ‘World Sleep Day’, this year on March 19 observed to spread awareness about the importance of sleep in daily wellbeing. It’s a day spent on making the world realise how important sleep is to improve your health and general well-being.
A good night’s sleep has several benefits. For starters, you’re in a better mood, have better cognitive skills and a host of other upskills that would beg the question of why isn’t it sleep time already. But, it’s not the only way for a healthier you. Good sleep, coupled with a healthy diet and continuous exercise is the trinity of wholesomeness when it comes to a better, fitter, healthier you.
Millions of people have made it known that they don’t get enough sleep or are awake for some reason or the other. Stress can play a huge role in sleep deprivation, but apart from that, therea’s another silent attacker called Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) that hampers sleep.
People suffering from OSA face several health complications. For starters, OSA results in a temporary halt in breathing while a patient is asleep. This is because the muscles that are relaxed due to OSA obstruct normal breathing. It is also the reason behind people snoring at night. People suffering from OSA end up not breathing for a minimum five and a maximum of thirty-plus times each night. This leads to a dip in oxygen levels in the blood and the person waking up several times a night.
Furthermore, lack of sleep, studies have revealed, have a link with premature illness and death. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, insufficient sleep has been linked to the development and management of several chronic and lifestyle diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and depression.
When it comes to diabetes, sleep duration and quality have emerged as predictors of levels of haemoglobin A1c, an important marker that regulates blood sugar levels. Recent research suggests that optimizing sleep duration and quality may be important means of improving blood sugar control in persons with type 2 diabetes.
It has also been found that people with sleep apnoea have been found to be at an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A majority of these include hypertension, blood pressure, stroke, coronary heart disease, and irregular heartbeat have been found in those with disordered sleep, suggesting that sleep apnoea may be an important predictor of cardiovascular disease.
During the pandemic, it has become increasingly risky to see a doctor. Fortunately, several medical companies have realised this situation and have introduced devices into the market that you can useto help you improve your sleep without having to physically visit a doctor.
There are several diagnostic kits available in the market at affordable rates. These tests, which can measure sleep at the convenience of your home, aims to help patients, who suffer from undiagnosed sleep apnoea, fix their sleeping patterns. Most importantly, these tests are affordable, thereby helping you monitor your sleep patterns before having an online consultation with an expert.
About the author
The author has completed his MBBS,DTDC,DNB,FCCP and works as a Senior Consultant in pulmonary,Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Columbia Asia & Baptist Hospital’s,Hebbal,Bengaluru.
Image Courtesy monkeybusinessimages by Pixabay
