HYDERABAD: Though people are well aware that not getting enough
sleep can have several adverse physical and psychological effects, doctors
say they do not place as much emphasis on it as they do on other health
issues.
According to a pan-India survey conducted this year by a mattress manufacturing firm, there has been a 32 per cent increase in the number of people in Hyderabad who believe they have insomnia since last year. One of the main reasons attributed to sleeping late was browsing social media till late hours, which 41 per cent of Hyderabadis said they do.
Dr S. K. Jaiswal, chief neurologist at a private hospital, stated that there is a lack of awareness about sleep disorders. "For example, if someone snores, they may believe it is a sign that they are sleeping well. However, it could be caused by a disorder such as sleep apnea." Another issue is that often people are not aware that they are not sleeping well. Even if they are aware, they believe it is normal and do not seek treatment, said Dr Jaiswal.
Continuous lack of sleep over long periods can cause some minor and even major ailments. It can cause anxiety and depression, cause certain epilepsies, and worsen pre-existing medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Dr. Manoj Vasireddy, consultant neurologist at a private hospital, said most people are not able to make enough time to get adequate sleep even if they know its importance. "Lifestyles have changed a lot in the past 20-25 years, which causes people more stress and allows them less time to sleep." He went
on to say that insomnia was a fairly common complaint among patients, and
that even when people recognise that they are suffering from it and can pinpoint the source as anxiety or stress, they are unable to cope with it.
