Bragging to friends that you have the ability to sleep only for a few hours every night, and getting away with it is a stunt that many youngsters pull off . One does not realize then, that a disturbed circadian rhythm could actually be hazardous and even  mortally perilous.

One cannot stress enough, the irrevocable role sleep plays in an individual’s general health. Dr Vikas Agrawal ENT specialist and sleep apnea surgeon reiterates, ” Worldwide research has suggested that insufficient sleep could lead to many lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease and heart attacks. Presence of sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Also  both short duration and long duration of sleep has been associated with a greater risk of dying from coronary heart disease.”

INDIANS ARE MORE PRONE TO HEART ATTACKS:-

Getting the right amount of sleep and reducing unhealthy lifestyle behaviours is extremely important for a healthy heart. Dr Agrawal says, “Indians are genetically more prone to get heart disease, so maintaining a healthy lifestyle is more important for us.”

LACK OF SLEEP LEADS TO CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE:-

Good quality sleep decreases heart rate and blood pressure, thus decreasing work of heart. Dr Santosh Kumar Dora, senior cardiologist says, “Lack of sleep keeps the heart rate and blood pressure elevated. Both are linked to increased incidence of heart disease. Lack of sleep increases insulin resistance and the risk of type II diabetes mellitus and also increases  C-reactive protein, a protein associated  with inflammation. Both diabetes and C-reactive protein  are associated with  higher incidence of coronary artery disease.”

PAY ATTENTION TO QUALITY OF SLEEP:- 

The quality of your sleep directly affects the quality of your waking life, including your productivity emotional balance, creativity, physical vitality and even your weight, Dr Nilesh Gautam, senior cardiologist  says, “Sleep isn’t a merely a time when your body shuts off. While you rest, your brain stays busy overseeing a wide variety of biological maintenance that keeps your body running in top condition, preparing you for the day ahead.”

DURATION OF SLEEP IS ALSO IMPORTANT:-

Of course, the saying ‘Early to bed and early to rise’ still holds , but sleep  specialists state that it is not so much the time, but the duration and regularity of sleep, that is important.

Melatonin is a hormone  secreted  approximately  one hour prior to sleep, which helps us to sleep better. If our sleep timings are irregular, the melatonin  secretion is affected, when it disturbs our sleep.

HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO INCOMPLETE SLEEP:-

1. Coronary artery disease
2. Hypertension
3. Diabetes
4. Stroke
5. Poor memory and cognition
6. Excessive daytime sleepiness
7. Excessive fatigue, lethargy and lack of motivation
8. Obesity
9. Depression
10. Moodiness and irritability
11. Reduced creativity and problem solving skills
12. Inability to  cope with stress
13. Reduced immunity, frequent  cold and infections.
14. Concentration and memory problems.
15. Weight gain
16. Impaired motor skills and increased risk of accidents.
17. Difficulty making decisions.