Doctors lose sleep over insomnia
About 20% of Thais suffer from insomnia, which affects body growth, healing ability and raises the chances of developing various diseases later in life, doctors say.
The startling figure was revealed yesterday as medical experts gathered to mark World Sleep Day. Insomnia topped a list sleep-related abnormalities, followed by snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, said Wachira Phengchan, head the of Public Health Ministry’s Department of Health.
Insomnia is not restricted to people encountering stress as many believe, the gathering was told.
Watching TV and using smart phones late into the night can be also factors behind difficulty in sleeping.
If left untreated, insomnia will affect physical growth as well as intelligence quotient (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) development in children while the bodies of adults who do not get enough sleep are unable to repair deteriorated cells.
“Eating healthy food alone will not be helpful” in supporting body growth and self-healing if people suffer from insomnia, Dr Wachira said.
Sleeping during what Dr Wachira called the “valuable time” from 10pm to 2am is the best period for the brain to take a full rest.
It is also when the body produces growth hormones which is essential in a child’s growth and the self-healing process in adults.
Without enough sleep, which should be seven hours a day on average, people are gradually harming their hearts.
In the long term, they are more likely to develop diseases such as heart disease, coronary artery disease, stroke, high blood pressure or diabetes, experts say.
People can check whether they have insomnia by observing their sleep. If they cannot fall asleep within 30 minutes for three consecutive days, they should see a doctor, said Arunwan Phruethiphan, chairwoman of the Sleep Society of Thailand.
Changes in lifestyles can help people cope with insomnia. They should not drink coffee or tea two hours before sleep time and they are advised to refrain from eating a lot of food and doing heavy exercise before bed.