By Lilian U. Okoro
The critical importance of prioritising sleep health cannot be overemphasised as sleep is the pillar of lifestyle medicine for overall well-being, the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg), says.
Dr Moyosore Makinde, the President of SOLONg, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in commemoration of the 2024 World Sleep Day on Friday in Lagos.
NAN reports that World Sleep Day is celebrated annually on March 15 to raise awareness of the importance of healthy sleep habits for overall well-being and promote good sleep habits.
It is an opportunity to heighten the awareness of sleep in diverse institutions and communities.
The 2024 World Sleep Day has the theme: “Sleep Equity for Global Health”.
Makinde, also a Consultant Family Physician and Member, World Sleep Society, said that sleep was not merely a luxury but a fundamental pillar of health, comparable to nutrition and physical activity.
According to her, sleep is essential to health, saying that adequate sleep supports memory and learning; promotes brain health by clearing waste from the brain and strengthens the immune system by aiding in the clearance of bacteria and viruses.
She explained that poor sleep health has been linked to a myriad of health issues, including obesity, diabetes, coronary artery disease and cognitive impairment.
The physician said that statistics reported by the World Sleep Society and World Health Organisation (WHO), revealed that 42 million adults were predicted to have chronic insomnia worldwide, while $417 billion is lost in annual GDP globally due to reduced productivity associated with chronic insomnia.
“Over 16 per cent of individuals over Africa and Asia have reported extreme and severe sleep problems which were strongly linked to poorer general well-being and quality of life, and psychiatric factors.
“Sleep health is a cornerstone of overall well-being, and world sleep day serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritising sleep in our lives.
“This day is marked with the main objective of creating an awareness campaign to draw the attention of the world to the growing global societal and economic burden of chronic insomnia.
“And how this can increase the risk of worker fatigue, errors in judgement, fatal accidents as well as chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease and even some cancers.
“By raising awareness of sleep health, healthy lifestyle behaviours and addressing disparities, we can work towards creating healthier and more equitable communities,” Makinde said.
Contributing, Dr Mimi Osamwonyi, the General Secretary of SOLONg, said that healthy sleep encompasses more than just getting enough sleep.
Osamwonyi, also a Consultant Neurologist, explained that there were six dimensions that impacted sleep health and, consequently, overall health and well-being.
“These dimensions include duration, efficiency, timing, regularity, alertness and quality.
“By addressing each dimension, individuals can adopt healthy sleep behaviours and improve their overall health.
“To maintain physical, mental and social well-being, you need to get enough sleep, as well as a healthy diet and exercise,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
