KARACHI, November 13 2024: In an enlightening session at Dow International Medical College titled “Reviews of Sleep Medicine,” medical experts underscored the detrimental impacts of sleep deprivation on mental and physical health. Led by Dr. Mansoor Ahmed, a Principal Investigator at ClinRè, USA, and former Director of the Cleveland Sleep and Research Center, the session explored the critical role sleep plays in maintaining overall well-being and the challenges surrounding sleep disorders.
Dr. Mansoor Ahmed emphasized that sleep is crucial for physical, mental, and emotional restoration, noting that poor sleep can weaken the effectiveness of various treatments and therapies. He highlighted sleep disorders as key contributors to psychological issues, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and urged that sleep evaluation should be integral to psychiatric care.
“With around 50-60 million Americans suffering from chronic sleep disorders, from insomnia to restless leg syndrome, it’s imperative to recognize and address these issues,” Dr. Ahmed stated. Despite the existence of diagnostic tools, a significant number of patients go undiagnosed, he noted, urging the need for more public awareness and specialized training for healthcare providers.
One of the session’s most sobering moments came as Dr. Ahmed discussed how sleep deprivation has contributed to tragic events. Citing data, he explained that 100,000 road accidents in the U.S. annually are linked to lack of sleep, with 4% resulting in fatalities. He also highlighted incidents like the NASA Challenger disaster and the Alaska Valdez oil spill, where lack of sleep played a role in critical errors.
Dr. Ahmed stressed the need for consistent sleep routines, explaining that newborns require 19 hours, teenagers 10-12 hours, and adults around 7-8 hours of sleep. He warned that the popular trend of staying up all night is particularly harmful to young people, who may not realize the health issues they are setting themselves up for in the future.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where Dr. Ahmed answered questions from students and faculty, encouraging further research and innovation in sleep medicine. The session underscored the urgent need to recognize sleep as foundational to health and integrate sleep evaluation into broader healthcare practices.
