A new video series released recently by the Directorate General of the Armed Forces Medical Services unpacks the science of sleep and its impact on physical and mental health while sharing practical insights to sleep better, recover stronger, and live healthier. Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services (DG-AFMS), told The Indian Express that though sleep plays a crucial role in human performance, many people unfortunately remain unaware of its importance and neglect it. “Even without valid reasons, sleep is frequently postponed or deprioritised,” Surgeon Vice Admiral Sarin said. The series of five videos, in English and Hindi, includes strategies to enhance sleep quality and provides practical tips for better sleep hygiene, besides providing guidance on maintaining a sleep diary. “The series on the official DG-AFMS YouTube channel is not just designed for medical professionals but for soldiers, veterans, students, and those seeking to harness the power of restorative sleep in their daily lives,” said Col Datta, who was previously with the Sports Medicine Department at Pune's Armed Forces Medical College. Growing issues due to lack of sleep One of the primary issues many people face is the subtle and gradual onset of the harmful effects of poor sleep, combined with a general lack of awareness. “These effects often go unnoticed, creeping in slowly over time. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, people tend to ignore the early warning signs, simply because they don’t recognise them. Over time, this neglect can lead to the development of full-blown sleep disorders and also increase the risk of other health conditions emerging earlier and progressing more rapidly,” Col Datta explained. “Even if just one person learns to understand and manage their own sleep, it can lead to a lifetime of improvement for that individual. The more people we can reach and help improve their sleep health, the healthier the overall population will become. This is important because sleep loss and sleep problems contribute to increased allostatic load (wear and tear on body due to chronic stress), which can elevate the risk for various diseases,” Col Datta added. Teaching kids about sleep hygiene Studies worldwide have reported that the quality and duration of sleep in schoolchildren is affected by various factors, including pre-sleep habits, addiction to screen devices, lack of physical exercise, and unhealthy meal timings, among others. “We had also reported the relative lack of parental control, as reported by schoolchildren, as one of the causes behind this in our study. Lack of awareness about sleep and its problems among schoolchildren, parents, and schools also plays an important role. Like we talk about oral hygiene and body hygiene to students in nursery and kindergarten, we must also talk about sleep hygiene,” Col Datta added.
