Over 10% Adults Suffer From Sleep Disorder in Northeast

GUWAHATI: More than 10 percent of the adult population above 40 years in the Northeast suffer from a sleep disorder, a medical condition responsible for much other life-threatening diseases, including heart attack.

On the occasion of the World Sleep Day observed in the city along with rest of the world on Friday, experts told The Sentinel that fast changing lifestyle in the Northeast is one of the prime reasons for the increase in the number of people suffering from sleep disorder in the region.

“Sleep disorders are medical disorders of the sleep patterns of a person. In simple terms, they are changes in the way a person sleeps. Sleep disorders can affect a person’s overall health. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental, social and emotional functioning,” Dr A. Ali, a city-based doctor, said.

According to Dr Ali there are various causes for different sleep disorders, such as depression, anxiety or genetics or something more severe such internal disease or disorder. He said it is sometimes difficult to detect the cause.

Snoring, not feeling fresh after sleep, daytime sleepiness, fatigue and loss of memory may be symptoms of sleep disorders.

Another doctor said some lifestyle-related factors such as irregular work schedule, more intake of caffeine and alcohol or simply aging are also responsible for sleep disorders.

Majority of those suffering from sleep disorders in the Northeast are from Guwahati. ‘Being the gateway to the Northeast and fast-emerging metro city Guwahati has witnessed massive changes in lifestyle of its residents. During our medical investigation we have found that a sizeable number of people suffer from high blood pressure due to lack of sufficient sound sleep,” a doctor at Gauhati Medical College & Hospital said.

In order to create awareness on sleep disorders, the North East Sleep Society (NESS), an organization comprising specialist doctors of the North East, on Friday observed the World Sleep Day with the theme “Healthy sleep, Healthy ageing”. Awareness programmes and consultations were held in city hospitals such as Apollo, Dispur Hospital, Nightingale and Pratiksha.

“The three elements of good sleep are proper duration, continuity and depth of sleep. Individuals who get an entire night’s sleep without interruptions, experience lower rate of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity,” a doctor of NESS said.

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