Sleep disorders common among youngsters working late nights

However,doctors say that instead of ignoring the problem or popping sleeping pills,which increases other risks,a thorough diagnosis for studying sleep patterns in sleep study in a sleep lab should be done.

PGI which is running its sleep lab for few years now,saw 180 patients in 2008-09,and 171 patients in 2009-10,who were diagnosed at the sleep laboratory and were treated accordingly.

Significantly,the disorder,which according to the doctors is one of the overlooked disorders at least in this region,has serious risk factors such as hypertension,irregular heartbeat,heart stroke etc.

Dr S K Jindal,head,department of pulmonary medicine,PGI,said,“Generally,the middle-aged are at a higher risk of acquiring sleep disorders especially women and those with hypertension.”

Dr A K Mandal,Consultant Pulmonary Medicine and Head of Critical Care Dept,Fortis,Mohali,said,“Sleep study is done in a sleep lab which is the means to evaluate their sleeping patterns and to diagnose their sleep disorders. If the patient is diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA),then the AHI (apnea hypopnea) index is generated which quantifies sleep apnea severity. The AHI index guides the physician on whether the problem is mild,moderate or severe so a treatment decision can be made.

“The disease has become an urban lifestyle disease. About 10-15 patients are frequenting the hospital with sleep disorders. Youngsters even at the age of 27-28 are coming with sleep disorders,” he added

Some of the youngsters after having diagnosed the severity of sleep disorders also seek the help of psychologists. “Many times the patients say that even after sleeping,they did not feel fresh. To avoid this,it is very important to think about pleasant experiences before going to sleep,one should make conscious efforts to keep negative and worrying thoughts at bay and do not sleep on a heavy stomach,” said professor Adarsh Kohli,professor at PGI’s psychiatry department.