Sleep Disorders: Most people take lack of sleep lightly, but doctors are considering it as a rapidly growing “silent health crisis”. Less sleep not only brings fatigue but also causes internal harm to the body and mind.
In modern life, mobile phones, stress and irregular routine have made this problem bigger.
Less sleep: a growing problem for the world
Today, scientists around the world believe that lack of sleep has now become a serious health challenge. Earlier it was considered only a part of rest, but now research is proving that less sleep has a direct impact on the brain, heart, immune system and mental health. America’s CDC report shows that one out of every three adults is not getting enough sleep. This problem is increasing rapidly in India too, especially among the youth.
Why is sleep decreasing in India?
Many surveys conducted in India show that the main reasons for lack of sleep among the youth are using phones till late night, overwork, stress and irregular lifestyle. Doctors say that the more time youngsters spend on screens, the more their brains remain awake and the delay in falling asleep.
Effect of lack of sleep on the brain
A study by the University of California, Berkeley found that less sleep in a single night can reduce memory, decision-making ability and learning speed by approximately 40%. Scientists say that less sleep makes the parts of the brain that increase anxiety more active. This is the reason why the risk of restlessness and depression doubles in people who lack sleep.
Harm of less sleep on heart and body
Research by Harvard Medical School says that the risk of heart attack and stroke increases by 30-40% in people who sleep less than 5 hours every day. Less sleep increases inflammation in the body, which can worsen blood pressure and sugar levels. The most worrying thing is that staying awake late at night increases the “hunger hormone” praslin, which increases the desire to eat junk food and makes people gain weight rapidly.
Teenagers and youth are most at risk
A study by The Lancet shows that in teenagers, watching social media and screens till late night reduces sleep by 60-90 minutes. A recent study conducted in India found that more than 70% of students use mobile phones late at night, which completely disrupts their sleep cycle. Its effect later manifests itself in the form of mental fatigue, irritability, low concentration and decline in studies.