From insomnia to sleep deprivation, there are all kinds of things that can go wrong when we do not sleep enough, or when we change our bedtime due to our lifestyle. In one of the episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, model Kendall Jenner discussed her struggles with sleep. “I wake up in the middle of the night and I can’t move,” she said, describing a typical episode of sleep paralysis — a common sleep disorder that is classified as a “parasomnia”, where episodes can cause you to feel intense anxiety.
Sleep disorders and deprivation have all kinds of grave consequences, including a heightened risk of cardiovascular diseases, stroke, depression and even sudden death.
Not just that, another sleep disorder — sleep apnea —can lead to sudden cardiac death. A few examples in the recent past are iconic stars Carrie Fisher and Amanda Peterson. The cause of their deaths leave open many unanswered questions.
Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that affect the ability to sleep well on a regular basis, regardless of whether they are caused by a health problem or by too much stress. “Sleep disorders include lack of sleep, poor quality of sleep (like obstructive sleep apnea) and abnormal behaviour such as sleep walking, teeth grinding and acting out vivid dreams,” explains Dr Deepika Sirineni, senior consultant neurophysician, Apollo Hospitals.
The lack of sleep can have a negative impact on energy, mood, concentration and overall health. “It is also a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and brain stroke,” adds Dr Deepika.
