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If good sleep still eludes you after you have tried a warm glass of milk, a bedtime bath or even counting sheep, you could be suffering from insomnia, a common condition associated with sleep disorder.
An insomniac person finds it difficult in initiating and maintaining sleep resulting in a feeling of fatigue and tiredness throughout the day. Experts are of the opinion that approximately one-third of the Indian population suffers from some sort of sleep disorder at some point of their life. It is more prevalent in urban India due to stressful lifestyles, hectic work schedules and psychological problems.
"I have not slept well for years. I keep awake all night, tossing and tuning in bed. Because of lack of quality sleep, I feel tired and cannot concentrate on my work during the day. My energy level has gone down. My muscles have been twitching, and off late, I have been experiencing anxiety," complains 37-year-old Kapoor (name changed).
So, how much of sleep is enough? There is no categorical answer. Each individual's needs are different. Some thrive on five to six hours, while others need eight to nine hours of sleep.
"Insomnia is the most common form of sleep disorder. If you have not been able to sleep well for more than 3-4 weeks, and it is affecting your work, it's time to consult a doctor," says Dr D Vasudevan, neurologist, Dr Kamakshi Memorial Hospital,
Chennai.
An insomniac has a few common symptoms that may indicate a sleep disorder. These include tiredness, headache, reduced concentration, daytime fatigue, mood changes, memory lapses and reduced performance.
Untreated insomnia can impair social and recreational activities, increased human errors, loss of productivity and elevated risk of accidents, decrement in their mood. In particular, considerable research supports a strong association between insomnia and depression. Insomnia is frequently co-morbid with physical and mental illness, as either a consequence or a contributing factor. Those with insomnia have 3.5 - 4.5 times more accidents in general, 1.5 times more work-related accidents and 2.5 times motor vehicle accidents.
Dr Geetanjali Sharma, psychiatrist, stressed that good quality sleep should be considered an essential component of healthy lifestyle, as much as exercise and nutrition.
Few people, including the sufferers, health professional and health authorities, recognise insomnia as a serious problem requiring treatment. The kind of treatment that usually does take place is self-medication with a sleeping pill like alprozolam and perhaps downed with some alcohol. However, Dr Geetanjali Sharma cautions that self-medication could worsen insomnia and cause more side-effects than good. "I have personally seen patients who had become addicted to sleeping pills before they finally managed to get proper treatment," says Dr
Vasudevan.
The biggest problem with self-medication is that it overlooks one major aspect, that is, identifying the cause of the insomnia. It (insomnia) could be caused by a multitude of factors, including medical conditions, psychological problems or environmental changes. Use of sedative medications like benzodiazepines for sleep problems must be closely monitored by your doctor. Your body can become dependent (withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuing) to these sedative medications. Your body may also become tolerant (medication becomes ineffective) to these sedatives. These self-medications may remain in the system for a longer period making one feel tired and exhausted throughout the day.
Inappropriate self-medication for insomnia may cause more problems in the long run and, therefore, needs proper medical consultation and intervention.
Tips for sound sleep:
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Follow a regular sleep schedule and bedroom routine;
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Make the environment conducive to sleep;
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Use the bedroom primarily for sleeping;
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Avoid substances that interfere with sleep like alcohol or caffeine;
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Exercise regularly;
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Relax as stress and worry are major impediments to sleep.
R Rangaraj
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