Value of sleep cited on World Sleep Day

“Various studies have shown that lack of restful sleep because of irregular work and lifestyle may lead to health problems,” said Dr. Keith Aguilera, EENT specialist. (PNA photo)

MANILA – The Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine (PSSM) highlighted the importance of sleep in line with the celebration of ‘World Sleep Day 2016’ with a theme “Good Sleep is a Reachable Dream” on Friday at the EMG Auditorium of Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City.

In this year’s celebration, specialist from the PSSM gathered the support of Multiflex, RNC Philippines, makers of uratex foams and mattress products to help promote good, healthful and restful sleep.

Together, they spearheaded symposium that started from March 17 to 19, 2016 wherein they gave lectures on many sleep-related concerns for adults and even for children.

They also entertained several queries in discussing some health concerns that can arise or be triggered with lack of proper sleep.

“Various studies have shown that lack of restful sleep because of irregular work and lifestyle may lead to health problems,” said Dr. Keith Aguilera, EENT specialist, one of the speakers and member of the PSSM group.

Dr. Aguilera added that among the health problems that can be triggered by sleep deprivation were diabetes, hypertension, cardiac arrest-heart attack stroke, risk of cancer (breast cancer and colon cancer), reproduction and even depression and psychiatric illnesses.

Aguilera further said that there were also studies that even pregnant women and her baby might be affected by lack of sleep as well as to drivers leading to problems on road safety.

“For workaholics, we advised them to have rest with good sleep,” the specialist added as he cited the elements of good sleep which include duration, continuity and depth.

Duration or sufficiency of sleep is needed to become well-rested and alert the following day.

Continuity means sleep time should be continuous and unbroken while depth suggests that sleep should be deep enough to be restorative or invigorating.

“Quality of sleep is very crucial to one’s good health and quality life,” he said.

He also said that since sleep was important in day to day functioning, the same was also a contributing factor for the over-all wellness and development of children.

Moreover, they shared that having good sleep reduces temperamental attitudes.

Other speakers in the event shared the 10 commandments of sleep hygiene according to the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM).

Among these are having a fixed bedtime and waking time, do daytime sleeping in excess of 45 minutes, avoiding excessive alcohol intake 4 hours before bedtime or smoking, avoiding intake of caffeine such as those in coffee, tea, most soda, including chocolate six hours before bedtime.

He said that sleeping in a comfortable room with controlled temperature (not too hot) with cool ambiance such carpeted floors, with comfortable bed linens, pillows and thick bed sheet somehow helps in getting good sleep such as hotels especially if lightings are properly mixed or a bit darker.

“The reason why you wake up in the morning is the temperature goes up. Once it goes up it signals your body to wake up. So if you have a good controlled and compressed room temperature, you sleep probably better,” he explained

Dindo Medina, corporate sales director of multiflex, RNC Philippines said that as uratex had always been humbly supporting good sleep, a much needed body activity that unfortunately many people do not pay attention to or perhaps do not achieved it for various reasons.

Medina said that healthy and less-stressed lifestyle, positive mindset toward life and choosing the correct mattress depending on the body’s shape and contours could help a lot.

“You have to find the right mattress for you,’ he advised the attendees of symposium as he added that investing in good mattress would be a good step.

He also said that a good mattress does not necessarily be expensive and the important is it matches the needs of the individual as he assured that Uratex compared to foreign counterpart brands is a lot cheaper.

In addition, he also shared some tips on the symposium how to make the mattress more durable and some cleansing maintenance tips after years of having it.

Sleep is an essential part in everyone’s existence.

It is a necessity wherein we should normally spend one third of our life in sleep.

We need this to repair our body and spending less time in it, will lead to many consequences.