WORLD SLEEP DAY 2014

WORLD SLEEP DAY 2014 WILL BE CELEBRATED ON 14TH MARCH

WE ARE DOING THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITY ON BEHALF OF NORTH EAST SLEEP SOCIETY-

• PRESS MEET ON 13TH MARCH AT 3 PM, GUWAHATI PRESS CLUB

• SLEEP APNEA AWARNESS CAMP ON 14TH MARCH, FROM 10AM TO 5PM, INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL, GUWAHATI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

• CME ON SLEEP MEDICINE, 14TH MARCH, 6.30 PM, HOTEL GATEWAY GRANDEUR, GUWAHATI
•  

World Sleep Day (WSD) has grown steadily since its inception. The first WSD was held on March 14th 2008, under the slogan ‘Sleep well, live fully awake’. It is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM). World sleep day is an annual event intended to be a celebration of sleep and a call to action on important issues related to sleep. The aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. This year’s “Restful Sleep, Easy Breathing, Healthy Body” is the theme in order to raise awareness of world sleep day. The objective of the 2014 slogan is to raise awareness of factors that are modifiable that can improve the quality of sleep and reduce the burden of fatigue and daytime somnolence.

RESTFUL SLEEP is one of the pillars of health. Three key elements of good quality sleep are:

1. Duration: The length of sleep should be sufficient for the sleeper to be rested and alert the following day

2. Continuity: Sleep periods should be seamless without fragmentation

3. Depth: Sleep should be deep enough to be restorative

Failure to obtain quality sleep may lead to poor alertness, lack of attention, reduced concentration, decreased work and academic productivity, and even motor vehicle accidents.

EASY BREATHING during sleep is a treasured commodity. Sleep-related respiratory disturbances, or sleep apnea, can lead to numerous health problems, such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. When breathing in sleep is an effort, quality sleep is reduced. There are modifiable risk factors that can build up to disrupt easy breathing in sleep. People who are obese may have accumulation of fat in the upper airway that along with a thick, large tongue disrupt the easy flow of air. A large abdomen interferes with the pumping action of the diaphragm. Obesity which has become epidemic in developing countries can be controlled and when doing so, sleep apnea is prevented. Children with large inflamed tonsils may have obstruction of the upper airway and significant sleep apnea. Sleep apnea in children may delay physical and mental growth. Removing the tonsils can be curative. Some individuals take medicines that reduce the activity of the respiratory centers and aggravate sleep apnea. Among such medicines are the sedatives and ironically the sleeping pills. Codeine-containing pain killers may also reduce the force of the respiratory effort in sleep and worsen sleep apnea.

HEALTHY BODY is the premise that leads to a restful sleep. Sick individuals do not sleep well. Alleviating disease and avoiding unhealthful habits contribute to improve the quality of sleep.