Good night’s sleep will help keep the doctor away
One in four adults has insomnia and the number is expected to rise over the next few years as a result of modern lifestyles. Twenty to 30 percent of adults complain both of lack of sleep and of the quality of the sleep they do get. But only 10 percent seek medical help, though specialist doctors can deal with the problem effectively. As Constantinos Soldatos, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Athens and chairman of the Greek Society of Sleep Research, said yesterday to mark World Sleep Day, insomnia is a symptom of the times and is chiefly due to stress brought on by modern lifestyles and increased workloads. Insomnia increasingly affects women, elderly people and people taking medicines and other substances. Factors predisposing people to insomnia are physical and mental disorders (depression and anxiety are the causes of chronic insomnia in 25 percent of cases), while those who do not express their feelings are much more prone to developing sleep problems. Distressing events may also trigger the onset of insomnia. There is nothing harmless about insomnia. Sufferers are at increased risk of cardiac ischemic disorder within six years after sleep problems first appear. They are four times as likely to get depression, while insomniacs often end up abusing alcohol or other substances. Insomnia can have severe consequences on society as a whole, since daytime drowsiness is involved in over 50 percent of work, road, sea and air accidents. According to Soldatos, the explosion of the spaceship Challenger, as well as the Chernobyl disaster, were examples of such consequences, since the people involved had previously shown signs of exhaustion due to insomnia. A few tips to have a good, relaxing slumber – Have a regular timetable for sleep. – Sleep in a comfortable, dark and quiet environment and make sure the room is well ventilated. – Avoid consuming caffeinated drinks or fatty foods at night. – Physical exercise during the day helps people sleep at night, but should be avoided in the evening. – Avoid activities in bed, except for sleep and sex. – If you can’t fall asleep, get up and do something calming. Return to bed only when you feel sleepy.
