Sleep is a small five letter word having tremendous consequences on the overall well being of a man. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the wellness of the human body, both physically and mentally. 

Dr William C Dement has rightly said, “We are not healthy unless our sleep is healthy, and we cannot make our sleep healthy unless we become thoroughly aware of both its peril and its promise.”

Our busy lifestyles and hectic schedules make it impossible to have a relaxing evening followed by a good night’s sleep. We are often on the brink, troubled about tomorrow. This, in turn, affects the way our body functions and disturbs the mental balance of our professional and personal life cycles. Having disturbed sleep can also cause fatal diseases like chronic disease development and unhealthy lifestyle habits, which are harmful in the long run. Poor quality sleep is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and metabolic disorders like glucose intolerance, diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases.

According to researchers, insufficient sleep is “considered to be a public health epidemic that is often unrecognised, underreported, and that has a rather high economic cost.” 

The 2006 Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation indicates that the average basal sleep needs of adults are approximately 7 to 8 hours per night, and for adolescents is 9 hours per night. 

Why do we need to have a call for action?

Society at large is unaware of the hazards of lack of sleep. The lack of awareness about the ill effects of sleep deprivation among people is alarming. Few ways one can consciously make a change are as follows:

• Understanding the effect of screen time on our sleeping habits and schedule is the need of the hour. We need to ensure that we stay away from any screen at least an hour before our scheduled bedtime.
• Organising campaigns on the health effects of employees due to long shifts and strenuous work ethics can help organisations to make informed decisions regarding the wellbeing of their employees.
• Eating proper and nutritious food helps in consuming the right amount of vitamins and minerals essential for our bodies than those derived from fast food. 
• And lastly, making a conscious effort to stay happy and joyous will surpass all the troubles and tensions. 

As Russel Ford says ” Sleep is the golden chain that ties all aspects of health and life together.” Take the initiative to sleep better, crawl into your pyjamas and snuggle onto your bed for a full night’s sleep.

Sukhada