Insomnia can pose health risk

People who sleep for less than five hours are more prone to hypertension and cardiac ailments. This was revealed to DNA by consultant psychiatrist, Dr Vidyadhar Watve, who is also a member of the Pune Psychiatrist Association.

Talking to DNA on Saturday, Watve said, "March is observed as the sleep awareness month. Many people are not aware of the problems caused by inadequate sleep. There are 500% chances of developing hypertension and cardiac illnesses in people who sleep for less than five hours as compared to those who sleep for six hours."

In fact, short sleep duration is a major risk factor that can trigger insulin resistance in diabetes patients, can cause obesity, and also give way to diabetes (type 2). Besides, chances of dying due to heart ailment also go up by almost 50% in case the person sleeps less than six hours a night, Watve added.

Insomnia is very common and almost 50% of the cases that are reported at the outpatient department in hospitals are of insomnia. Many people do not know that while sleeping, blood pressure and heart rate decreases and any disturbance in the quantity or quality of sleep can trigger severity of hypertension.

He said, "Sleep helps the heart in slowing down and the blood pressure to drop for a significant part of the day. However, people who only sleep for short durations have an increased blood pressure and heart rate. This can elevate the blood pressure levels in the cardiovascular system, leading to cardiac complications."

Dr Sandeep Parkhi, another psychiatrist, told DNA, "Lack of sleep can lead to impaired memory, damaged cognitive ability, doubling the risk of sustaining an occupational injury and damage to the immune system."

It can also lead to severe conditions like cardiac arrest, stroke, depression, bipolar mood disorders, mental impairment, increased mortality, relationship problems with the partner and obesity.

Explaining how inadequate sleep causes obesity, Parkhi said, "Lack of sleep can cause weight gain because when a person is awake he tends to eat more. It increases hunger and affects metabolism. This causes extra weight that can also lead to sleep apnoea."

Dr Kishor Gujar, national executive of the Indian Psychiatric Society's national branch and vice-president of the Pune Psychiatry Society, suggested some measures to avoid insomnia and disturbing sleeping patterns.

He said, "Insomnia can be seen in various age groups and to avoid this problem one must maintain sleep hygiene. By sleep hygiene we mean change in lifestyle, which includes daily exercise, intake of healthy food, having dinner early (at 7 pm) and trying to sleep by 9 pm, even if one is not sleepy."