Mokokchung, March 15 (MExN): If you felt sleepy today at the workplace or at home or anywhere, don’t fret, March 15 is World Sleep Day. Believe it, this annual event is a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important health issues related to it.
Many haven’t heard of World Sleep Day, but this ingenious event is annually organized by the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM), an international association whose mission is to advance sleep health worldwide. This year’s theme is ‘Good Sleep, Healthy Ageing’ which aims to draw attention to common complaints of sleep disturbance in older adults.
“Getting a good night’s sleep is possible at any age, and is vitally important for overall health,” states a press release posted on the official website, www.worldsleepday.org. This year, WASM is emphasizing that good sleep is important at any age.
But many don’t know about this day. “What! I am hearing of it only now!” exclaimed Aso Imsong, a local reporter attached with Ao Milen. His colleague Atsungla commented, “I am so happy to learn that there is such a day as a World Sleep Day’.
A medical doctor when asked to comment on the World Sleep Day expressed disbelief at first. “This must be some prank played by some mischievous persons,” said Dr Sunep of IMDH, Mokokchung. However, after understanding that the event is being organized annually by WASM, Dr Sunep too, said that he has never heard of such a day nor of it being celebrated in Nagaland. Nonetheless, he said that if such a day is being celebrated to address the issue of sleepiness and sleeplessness, then it would greatly help in creating awareness and addressing the sleep problems which silently afflict many people.
While we may find the idea of World Sleep Day amusing, WASM is serious about the problem of sleepiness and sleeplessness. According to recent research, approximately 50 percent of older adults report difficulty sleeping. But sleep problems in older adults are less a result of aging itself and more related to other conditions that may accompany aging, the WASM press release cautioned.
“Respiratory disorders, changes in circadian sleep cycles, medical and psychiatric illnesses, and increased medicine use all can contribute to poor quality sleep in this growing population,” it stated. “Sleep disturbances have been shown to contribute to decreased quality of life, more symptoms of depression and anxiety, slower reaction times, memory problems, issues with balance and vision increasing risk of falls, and even death,” the WASM informed. However, there is good news; if you you’re an older adult, good quality sleep is within reach.
It might mean talking with your doctor about your medications, going to bed and waking up earlier because your body’s circadian sleep cycles have shifted, or getting treatment for other conditions that are interfering with your sleep, the WASM advised.
“Some sleep disorders, such as insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, are more common in the elderly. But with diagnosis and specialty care, these issues can also be treated and even prevented,” the WASM stated.
So while we may laugh off that there is such a day like the World Sleep Day, perhaps, you might have a sleepless night laughing about the event, and that’s when you might need to see a doctor.
