World Health Day: Sleep Health In India – Dr Bharat Gopal

World Health Day: Sleep Health In India - Dr Bharat Gopal
World Health Day: Sleep Health In India - Dr Bharat Gopal

Sleep health is a multifaceted sleep-wakefulness pattern that is
adaptable to individual, social, and environmental needs and supports both
physical and mental health. Sleep is a biological necessity, and sleep
deprivation or undiagnosed sleep disorders are detrimental to one’s wellness,
happiness, and safety. Good sleep health is characterized by subjective
satisfaction, quality and quantity of sleep, and sustained alertness during
waking hours.

For optimal cognitive performance, mood, psychological health, and
cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic health, individuals must get
enough quality sleep. The ResMed 2023 sleep survey suggests that 58% of
respondents from India believed snoring to be a sign of sound sleep and that
they were not aware that it could be a risk factor for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
(OSA) and other sleep-related problems. Contrary to popular belief,
snoring does not necessarily signal a good night’s sleep, reinforcing the significance
of raising awareness of sleep disorders in India.

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the muscles in the throat relax
to the point of collapse, restricting airflow. This deprives the body and brain
of oxygen by causing breathing to become shallow or even halt for a few seconds
or minutes at a time. Lack of deep sleep increases the chance of developing
serious health issues and can lead to significant weariness. Sleep apnea is
characterised by frequent breathing pauses that can stress and even harm the
cardiovascular system as a whole.

Untreated sleep apnea can eventually cause the development of risk
factors for AFib like diabetes and hypertension. Atrial
fibrillation is four times more likely to occur in
people with sleep apnea (AFib). It has also been demonstrated that sleep apnea
directly causes arrhythmias when a person is asleep. Whenever a person
with sleep apnea is startled awake by a lack of oxygen, the heart encounters
mechanical stressors and chemical changes that may contribute to the
development of AFib.

Mr RL, a 55-year-old male who was obese with
a BMI of 36, was hospitalised six months ago after experiencing a severe
episode of Afib that required cardioversion to safeguard his life. The patient
was examined by me for H/o Snoring because he did not smoke and had no other
comorbid conditions. His extensive medical history strongly suggested that he
had sleep apnea, which was validated by a sleep study.

He was advised to use CPAP therapy coupled with weight loss. The patient rejected the idea of CPAP
therapy. His subsequent identical instances within a month caused him to be
admitted to a different hospital. On his follow-up consultation, he was
recommended to utilise CPAP therapy, along with his medications, and since then
he has not experienced a recurrence in the past four months.

The hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls food and
energy expenditure, might suffer negative effects from lack of sleep. Being
sleep deprived can cause people to experience hunger for a longer period of time
and drive people to consume more calories than necessary, particularly from
foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates and can result in gaining
weight. Changes in hormone levels brought on by sleep, particularly those of
leptin and ghrelin, can also lead to an unbalanced hunger.

Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) impacts individuals who are
overweight or obese and causes shallow or sluggish breathing. The respiratory
system becomes fatigued because the body has to work harder to breathe, which
can result in an excessive amount of carbon dioxide with insufficient oxygen in
the blood. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which involves periods of missing or
decreased breathing during sleep, is frequently linked to the syndrome and
causes daytime sleepiness and frequently interrupted awakenings.

Sleep apnea causes numerous sleep disturbances, preventing people
from sleeping soundly and leaving the feeling of fatigue during
the day. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common
breathing problem associated with sleep that can result in a number of fatal
illnesses. OSA affects numerous organ systems on a structural level. When left untreated, it can exacerbate certain conditions and
increase the risk of stroke, metabolic disorders, diabetes, depression,
hypertension, and heart disease.

Untreated OSA has also been linked to
cognitive dysfunction, decreased productivity at work, and a higher risk of
injury and fatality causing motor vehicle accidents. Untreated
OSA patients frequently experience drowsiness, hypersensitivity, and
irritability. These signs of sleep deprivation quickly become the norm if sleep
apnea is not treated, which makes individuals unhappy and deprives people of
the energy and concentration they need to live full, meaningful lives.

The government and the private sector should work together to
implement initiatives aimed at enhancing India’s healthcare system. Initiatives
to enhance education and knowledge of the significance of sleep and related sleep
disorders should be prioritized. It will drive people of all ages to prioritise
sleep in their daily schedules, which will ultimately assist individuals to
bring out their best selves.

Patients must be transparent with their physicians because open
communication fosters patient confidence, clarifies matters for doctors, and
results in long-term improvements. The key takeaway here is that we need
to adopt a healthy sleep routine. A healthy sleep cycle has various positive
effects on our general well-being and promotes both physical and mental health.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Medical Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Medical Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.

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