Sleep Disorders Could Pose Accident Risk To The Sleepless

By Sakini Mohd Said KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- Not many people know this but having a problem getting a good night’s sleep could just raise the risk of accident to the sleepless. But what fits the bill as a sleeping problem or a disorder, how is it defined, and what does it really mean when it has ended on the list of risk factors for an accident? Looking at it casually, the inability of a person to fall asleep may seem like just another ordinary situation a normal person goes through. In fact, all of us would have gone through the situation of not being able to just doze off at one point of time. It is a normal occurrence and usually a temporary condition, perhaps brought on by an extraordinarily happy situation, too much excitement or grief or even simply thinking too much about something that it disturbs the individual's ability to nod off. TYPES OF SLEEP DISORDERS However, should the ability to doze off and enjoy the most precious form of rest and relaxation a human being could have take on a longer period, running into months and disturbing daily routines, the affected person may just be facing a sleep disorder. The President of the Sleep Disorder Society Malaysia (SDSM), Dr Muhammad Muhsin Ahmad Zahari, describes sleep disorder as a condition where a person faces difficulty in getting quality sleep, unlike a normal person. These would include feeling drowsy at inappropriate times, sleeping excessively, having breathing difficulties during sleeping, which reduces the amount of rest gained from sleep, as well as unusual actions such as moaning, talking and walking in sleep. "There are various kinds of sleeping disorders. "Among these are insomnia, narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and parasomnia. OSA, caused by obstruction in the upper airway, which disturbs breathing, is the most common sleep disorder brought to attention," he told Bernama. IN THE ABSENCE OF EARLY TREATMENT Sleep disorders, if not treated early, could pose various problems in the daily lives of those affected, even while driving a vehicle. A fit body and an alert mind are important conditions for anyone to drive a vehicle on the road, and these come with the regular care of one's health and wellbeing, including getting quality sleep. Sleep is a very important function as it restores the human energy to the optimum level after a day of hard work. But problems crop up when the all-important sleep is constantly disturbed by breathing difficulties or other reasons such as insomnia, as this would lead to fatigue or exhaustion the next day and invite trouble when the affected person drives, he said. This is not a simple matter as even a second of lull into sleep by a drowsy driver could lead to an accident, he added. Although not many studies have been undertaken in the country to establish a link between the risk of accidents and sleep disorders, substantial research carried out overseas have pointed towards the link. An article in the international journal, Sleep Medicine Review, entitled 'The Hazards and Prevention of Driving While Sleepy', points out that about 20 per cent of motor accidents are possibly caused by drowsiness. This has been further concurred with data from the international journal on 'Accident Analysis & Prevention' and 'The role of driver sleepiness in car crashes', indicating that drivers with sleep disorders are seven more times likely to face the risk of injuries from an accident. This shows how important it is to get early treatment for sleep disorders. LOW PRODUCTIVITY Fatigue, or feeling tired easily and not being able to fully concentrate because of the lack of proper sleep, does not just affect routines like driving a car but it can also cross over to the work area. Dr Muhammad Muhsin said sleep deprivation can bring about a compromise on the ability to focus and think properly and will finally contribute to a drop in productivity and work performance. It also contributes to weight gain, diabetes, heart attacks, emotional stress, and various other dangerous health conditions. Therefore, there is a need to raise awareness among people on the importance of sleep, considering that only one third of people facing the problem are getting professional treatment. "I feel we are still taking the problem of sleep disorders very lightly as we consider it only a simple component. But sleep is an essential process in the human physiology, similar to other needs of a man for food, place of habitation and so on. "Therefore, if we do not fulfil the need for sleep, it can bring about many complications in our body systems, and that is why awareness is important," he said. HOW MANY HOURS A DAY? To get quality sleep, adults need six to seven hours of sleep a day. This becomes a problem for some people living in the city who lead a lifestyle that includes staying up late at nights, to the point of disturbing their sleep and increasing the risk of sleep disorders. Then there are those who do not have a set sleeping time, and they end up not feeling refreshed the next day, even if they sleep the required amount of time. "Why? "It is good to sleep and get up at the same time every day. This is because our biological clock has been set that way, and if it is not made a habit, it will confuse the body's biological processes,” Dr Muhammad said. "This is what will make us groggy even if we sleep six to seven hours a day," he added. Meanwhile, recommendations for getting a good night’s sleep include changing one's lifestyle to incorporate a healthy sleeping pattern, switching off the phone when in the bedroom, and ensuring that the bedroom is dark and quiet. One should also avoid taking caffeine or doing any exercise routine four hours before bedtime. The bedroom should not become a place for working. If the problem of not being able to sleep properly still persists, the advice of an expert should be sought as it is a problem that can be solved. -- BERNAMA