“Better sleep, Better Health, Better Planet” is a conversation we need to have now. This year, the World Sleep Day on the 13th of March has this theme. But I have written about the need for good quality of uninterrupted deep sleep, duration, and its relation to the quality of life for a very long time.
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Even though you feel better after a good night’s rest, sleep is the first casualty in a busy life. You would rather give up on sleep than late-night coffees and the office dinner parties. The problem of sleep debt is real and it never goes away. Healthcare professionals suffer from chronic sleep debt. That’s probably the biggest reason why, conversations about eight hours of sleep, get lost in the wind.
Sometime back, I wrote a blog post about the five mistakes even smart doctors make about their health. Sleep deficit is one of the most common mistakes made by doctors. Worldwide, almost 45 % of people suffer from sleep problems and less than one-third seek help.
The truth is sleep is essential for your health.
It regenerates your brain, boosts your immunity, protects cardiovascular health, and makes life better. It also makes your planet better. When you sleep, you use fewer resources, less power, your body emits a lower amount of heat and carbon dioxide.
What about snoring and sleep?
Most people snore, right? Snoring is standard, right?
Many people snore a little when they have a stuffy nose due to a cold, but it’s unlikely that they snore all the time. Snoring is closely related to metabolic disorders like diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia.
Stopping snoring is vital for good health.
Some people start snoring after they gain weight, and this results in the deterioration of their sleep quality. The first step to the management of snoring is a detailed history with an ENT surgeon who has experience with sleep problems. Your health history helps your doctor find out the missing links in your snoring health.
Then comes a test called Polysomnography, which helps us grade the snoring. This helps to see whether the snoring fits the criteria of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. This is a condition wherein the snoring causes your brain to go into a state of oxygen deprivation several times a night.
If someone is diagnosed with OSAH, a full check-up is done to find out other coexisting conditions.
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea?
OSAH a severe condition where snoring causes your airway to close. This means all your cells and organs (including heart and brain) are deprived of oxygen.
The main problem is, you are often caught unaware. You don’t know whether you are having this problem. Your family and spouse are the best people to let you know. Then it would help if you visited your doctor. Your doctor will listen to your symptoms or clues and may ask you to do some tests.
Apnea: complete breath-holding for ten or more seconds.
Hypopnea: Partial breath-holding.
Symptoms of Sleep apnoea
- Snoring
- Fatigue
- Witness breath holding
- Gasping and choking
- EDS
- Fragmented sleep
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Reduced alertness
- Poor quality of life in general
- Mood changes
- Nocturia
Statistics:
Health Survey in India showed a 22.0% of total population self-reported having Snoring Disorder.
OSAH is highest in the age group 50–59 (21.7%).
Males 14.8%
Sleep Apnea prevalence with other conditions
- Drug-resistant hypertension 80%
- Obesity 77%
- Pacemakers 59%
- Congestive heart failure 50%
- Atrial fibrillation 50 %
- Diabetes 50 % of sleep apnea leads to insulin resistance. Over 50% of type 2 diabetes patients have been shown to have sleep apnea
- Other effects
- Fatigue-related motor vehicle and work accidents
- Decreased quality of life
- Depression
- Impotence
- Hypertension 35%
- Coronary artery disease 30%
When people sleep for eight hours a day, they not only improve their own health, increase their productivity but also help reduce their carbon footprint and make the world greener. There really is no excuse for you not to sleep for your health and the world.
What is the best practice if you find out you have sleep apnoea after testing?
Your doctor will give you holistic sleep management, which will address your immediate sleep quality with a device such as the CPAP machine, sleep aids like pillows
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines, manufactured by healthcare companies such as PHILIPS Respironics, is an effective treatment for sleep apnea. In the treatment, a CPAP machine is given to the patient for use. The CPAP machine is a special kind of device, with a humidifier and mask. This prevents the upper airway from getting obstructed during sleep. It will provide a gentle flow of air through the upper airway, allowing the patient to breathe freely while sleeping. The brain is not deprived of oxygen, and the overall health improves. The initiatives by healthcare companies like PHILIPS Respironics in providing meaningful solutions for sleep disorders is appreciated.
- Reduce weight and other coexistent conditions
- Manage surgically correctable issues if present
- Sleep hygiene best practices to sleep well.
The important thing is the treatment will need immediate help and a long-term solution and your commitment to making it work. So, what are you doing to take care of your sleep? The free tool to help you live life to the fullest!
Thank you for sharing this. Sleeping disorder can take a major toll on our health and we have to be aware of it.
Wow these are some good tips for those having issues with sleeping. Will send this to my friend who I know personally that she doesn’t sleep well.
Was not aware that weight gain can cause this trouble, A very informative and relevant post. Thanks for sharing such a detailed post
I agree taking adequate amount of sleep is necessary for everyone as it resets our body to function well.
Many sleep related thing new to me, thanks for sharing A very useful information. In today’s so fast moving life the first thing sacrificed is sleep. But this being a very important part and lots of diseases happening due to lack of sleep , we need to take great importance of getting a good sleep.
Your post has made understanding sleep apnea a bit easy. It is important to address the issue if it’s serious.
I didn’t knew about sleep disorders much. Thanks for sharing the symptoms and how prevalent they are. It’s scary that it needs surgical interventions too.
stress from work, traffic, lack of sleep, lifestyle disorders are all contributing factors for sleep apnea and snoring right. I have noticed when you are less stressed, snoring is relatably low.
Interesting. I had never heard of the concept of sleep debt! Also thanks for the information on sleep apnea. It was very useful.
Sleep disorders due to snoring, then I need to ask my family do they have any such difficulties to feel asleep.
Such an insightful post doc. Sleeping right infact holds the key yo good health
I do have a fragmented pattern of sleep. But then I feel well rested in the morning and get up on my own. Hope that is good
Even my hubby snore but never knew it can be sleeping disorder. I will tell my hubby about it.
Yes good sleep is essential for good health and many people ignore this important aspect of our overall health. thanks a lot for sharing this informative post, will help a lot in understanding importance of good sleep in their day to day life.
Sleep disorders are getting common but people are not aware about it. They often relate it to fatigue, busy lifestyle. And if they figure it out then they want to keep it to themselves.
I understand the importance of sleep however in this article I got to know so many new things. Sleep increases immunity too, lets sleep well and stay healthy.
While most people give special emphasis to eating right and their fitness, very few think whether they are getting the right amount of good quality sleep. This post should make them think about it.
Sleep is undeniable the most important aspect of being healthy. This is a helpful equipment to assist with managing issues and getting the rest and healing that one needs.
Sleeping well is really essential for a healthy body and mind… I have a really tough time doing anything if I don’t sleep well! This is a helpful post!
This is a very informative and interesting piece. Sleep is such a vital component in our lives and its importance cannot be underlined enough.
Due to fast paced competitive lifestyle, lack of sleep is the number 1 enemy of health these days.
Sleeping disorders are widely prevalent yet many people aren’t aware of them or choose not to address them. Your post will certainly help many in that boat.
Many things where really new to me, i never knew about Sleep Apnoea/ but now i definitely know many things. Thanks for such a detailed post.
Very helpful information!
I’ve had sleep apnea long before any weight gain. And, CPAP only works if your nasal passages are clear.
We need to manage all causes of obstruction medically /.surgically as far as possible, and manage the lifestyle issues too, for the effective management of sleep apnea.There is absolutely no quick fix.