Hyderabad: Only four per cent of the 13 per cent Indians suffering from sleep disorders get treatment, said experts ahead of World Sleep Day observance on March 18.
Research and clinical studies carried out in the last two years in India have shown that prevalence of sleep apnoea is about 13 per cent, and the incidence is three fold in men as compared to women.
Sleep specialist Dr Ramakrishna Reddy said, “Snoring is a very prominent sign, but that is not displayed in all patients. Some of them are short of breath at night and wake up every few hours to breathe. This is a very potent sign, but due to lack of awareness, the patient does not approach the doctor. It is only when it leads to diabetes or high blood pressure that the patient approach the doctor. But in that case too, the presented disease is treated and not the problem of sleep.” Experts state that questions on sleep patterns are not asked as it is assumed that the patient sleeps well.
Dr Srinivas Kishore Sistla, consultant sleep specialist and ENT, head and neck surgeon said, “In urban India it is found that men above 35 suffer from sleep problems. The early onset of this problem is due to changing lifestyles like working night shifts, stress, and frequent and excessive travel across various time zones and also food habits. The average urban population has dinner after 9 pm, which is actually bedtime. Hence as the sleep time is encroached upon, delayed sleep is also one of the reasons for sleep disorders.”
Undiagnosed sleep disorders create an enormous amount of sleep deficit and it then reflects in the functioning of the person who is found to
sleep between meetings, behind the wheel, in elevators and even as pillion riders. Women get sleep issues after 40 and their problems are linked to stress as well as metabolic disorders.
Dr Youngandhar Bhatt, consultant pulmonologist, said, “In a majority of women, obesity is found to be one of the major reasons for sleep problems. Apart from this, those suffering from thyroid issues also complain of sleep deficit. But estrogen protects women. In post-menopausal women, the incidence is higher but not many of them come forward directly to deal with sleep apnoea. ”
