46% OF FILIPINOS DON’T GET ENOUGH SLEEP
According to the 2016 Healthy Living Index Survey, the Philippines has one of the highest rates of sleep deprivation in Asia—46 percent of Filipinos do not get enough sleep, while 32 percent said they sleep for less than six hours.
This mirrors a lifestyle challenge that urbanites worldwide are grappling with. In the 2017 Philips’ “Unfiltered Sleep: A Global Prioritization Puzzle,” an international survey which looked at how people across the globe perceive, prioritize and prepare for sleep, more than eight in 10 adults (84 percent) say that a variety of activities take precedence over a good night’s sleep.
Beyond lifestyle habits, one of the most common causes of poor sleep quality is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition that disrupts the sleep cycle and affects one’s energy, intellectual performance and long-term health.
Due to collapsed airways, a patient with OSA stops breathing repeatedly, causing a disruption of sleep. The disorder often goes undiagnosed due to the lack of awareness, both on the part of the patients as well as of primary care physicians.
Untreated OSA in the long run can result in life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure and even stroke.
To increase the rate of diagnosis, Philips, the global leader in sleep and respiratory solutions, together with the Sleep Society of Philippines and Centuria Medical Makati, the Philippines’ first medical mall, hosted the Sleep Apnea Forum to educate healthcare professionals on the diagnosis and treatment of OSA.
More than 50 doctors and healthcare professionals attended educational lectures at the Forum to augment their knowledge in the diagnosis of OSA. Philips also shared its latest treatment solutions for sleep apnea, such as oxygen therapy, noninvasive ventilation and respiratory drug delivery.
“By educating healthcare professionals at the Sleep Apnea Forum, we aim to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of OSA in the country,” said Urasinee Patasongkram, country manager, Philips Philippines Inc.