Coronasomnia: 70% of corona patients facing sleep problems, say experts

New Delhi: “At least 70% of people who got infected with the disease are now facing sleep disturbances,” said Dr. Shivanshu Raj Goyal, Consultant Pulmonologist & Sleep Medicine Specialist, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram. “This disorder needs counselling, sticking to a regular daily schedule, diversion of attention from anxious or sorrowful thoughts, meditation and, in a few cases, use of sleep harmone called Melatonin.”

The unexpected demise of singer and composer Bappi Lahiri has put the spotlight on another sleep disorder: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It is a common lifestyle problem, yet not much spoken about. A significant proportion of Indians, mainly men, suffer from sleeplessness and OSA.

As per Dr. Shivanshu Raj Goyal: “OSA begins from snoring which we all tend to ignore and see as harmless or butt of jokes. The condition gradually keeps worsening. If left unattended, it can lead to problems like severe headache, difficulty in breathing and excessive daytime sleepiness. The severe stage of the disease can involve high blood pressure, stroke, uncontrolled diabetes and even death of the patient.”

OSA is very common in people who have excessive fat around the neck and high BMI, meaning they are overweight or obese. It is part of a larger health problem called Metabolic Syndrome which includes high blood sugar, high blood pressure, deranged cholesterol and belly fat.

Said Dr. Shashidhar TB member of American Academy of Sleep Medicine & Head ENT at Artemis Hospitals Gurgaon: “OSA can be effectively cured in most children by surgery and in selected adults by a variety of surgical procedures addressing to nose, palette, tongue & face. The most important thing is the early detection through ENT Evaluation & Sleep study.”

According to Dr. Shivanshu Raj Goyal, the best way to properly evaluate the condition is to see a pulmonary and sleep specialist or an ENT specialist.

Goyal explains: “After basic assessment, they would ask you for a sleep study to be undertaken. This can be conducted at your own home or at a hospital. If diagnosed with OSA, the patient needs to act fast and do lifestyle modifications, such as adequate physical activity to lose weight, diet modifications and positional modifications while sleeping. There are also easily wearable therapies such as a CPAP device. These would help mitigate the risk at the earliest. In a few cases, even ENT surgery may be required for the management of OSA.”

Never ignore things like obesity, loud snoring, day-time sleepiness and feeling of choking at night, as these can gradually turn into something serious, he warns.