Sleep Well to Stay Well!
- April 20, 2024
Sleep Well to Stay Well!
Sanjeev* is a VP with a well-known multinational company. He is a workaholic, reaches home daily after 11:30 pm, goes to bed at around 1:00 am and again gets up at 6:00 am. Payal* is doing her MBA, prefers late-night studies and often sleeps at 3:00 am and gets up at 7:00 am for her college. Shravan* has recently passed out from college and taken up his new job. He and his friends catch up daily after office and reach home by 2:00 am. Vicky* loves movies, he has a habit of watching one every night, so he does not sleep before midnight. He is a fitness freak hence hits the gym at 5:30 am sharp.
All the above examples illustrate the way most youngsters are living their life toady.
Today’s young generation aspires to be successful and wants to live life on their terms. Apart from sharing this commonality, they share another big common point – all of them are making themselves sleep deprived, hence are putting their health at risk. And it is interesting that they do not even know that they are sleep deprived since its signs and symptoms are very subtle. It feels normal to them when they feel lethargic, sleepy, and disengaged the next day.
What they do not know or rather are not paying attention to is that sleep deprivation may have serious consequences:
- It impairs attention, alertness, concentration, reasoning, and problem-solving – thereby impacting ability to think and learn. Lack of cognition may also result in accidents.
- Can lead to increased risk of heart disease: Heart failure, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, stroke & diabetes.
- Is one of the causes of depression & anxiety.
- Ages the skin – with fine lines, dark circles, etc.
- Weight gain.
- Reduces libido.
If the above examples are true for you and the following statements are not true for you, then you should consult your doctor for sleeplessness:
- You fall asleep within 15-20 minutes after going to bed.
- You regularly sleep for a total of seven to nine hours in a 24-hour period.
- You do not get up multiple times during the night.
- You wake up feeling refreshed and energetic.
- You feel alert and can be fully productive throughout the day.
