I really thought that insomnia was primarily a first world problem. Everyone is stressed out and can’t arrange enough time in their schedules for proper sleep. And even if they do, there’s so much going on that you can’t sleep anyways.
Well, in addition to all the jobs we’ve exported overseas, it seems we’ve exported the stress as well. Some seventy-eight per cent of Kolkata (Calcutta) workers sleep less than six hours!
KOLKATA: Don’t go by the snoozing para shopkeeper, slow-mo Kolkata is losing sleep like just like fast-paced metros as Mumbai and Delhi. Kolkata’s corporate executives – cutting across 18 sectors like IT, management, media and FMCG – are too stressed to have a good night’s sleep, says a survey conducted byAssocham for World Health Day.
Around 78% of working adults across the country – including Kolkata – sleep far less than what is recommended. Half the people in the City of Joy are sleep deprived, the study says.Women are even worse off.
The result: thousands have sought treatment at specialized clinics in the city over the last one year. Experts believe Kolkata is yet to come to terms with the new work culture that entails longer working hours and an often erratic lifestyle.
What comes as a surprise, though, is the very young age of the corporate executives suffering from sleep disorders. While 55% respondents were in the 20-29-year group, another 26% were in the 30-39 age group.
Among a series of health issues, the Assocham survey has focused on sleep, which, it says, reflects the stress and comfort levels of working professionals. As Assocham secretary general D S Rawat mentioned in the report: “Loss of sleep has wide ranging effects including performance deterioration and increased absenteeism,” Rawat said.
Kolkata has not fared poorly, though. It ranks 8th on the list of sleep deprived metros with Delhi and Mumbai topping the chart. But the figures are still alarming and they are spiralling, warned experts. Seventy-eight per cent sleep less than six hours. This is inadequate, say neurologists. It could affect your performance level and lead to anxiety, irritability and loss of memory.
The ASSOCHAM survey lists nine different concerns respondents mentioned as the major reasons for their sleep deprivation. Topping them are lifestyle factors like excessive use of caffeine, extreme noise and even constant change of temperature (working in an AC environment for hours). Most Kolkata doctors agree.
While age-induced insomnia would be the most common form of sleeplessness till about a decade ago, now it is stress and anxiety which are making younger people lose sleep, according to TK Banerjee, consultant and head of National Neuroscience Centre, Kolkata. “Those in the age-group of 35-50 suffer from insomnia more often than the elderly. Work-related tension, long hours and late nights are responsible. They are indulging in an overdose of stimulants like coffee, tea and alcohol to drive away stress which actually backfire. These might act as temporary stress-busters but they upset your body clock. Sleep is the most obvious casualty and it is taking a heavy toll on both personal and professional lives,” said Banerjee.
Middle-aged professionals form the largest chunk of patients in city sleep clinics. They are stressed, have unhealthy eating habits and erratic schedules, pointed out Suresh Ramasubhan, in-charge of the Apollo Gleneagles sleep laboratory. “Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is still the most common cause but stress, anxiety and depression now run it close. In adolescents, psycho-physiological insomnia or depression-induced sleeplessness is common. In fact, sleeplessness could lead to depression and vice versa. Both are common in Kolkata now,” said Ramasubhan.
Sleep laboratories like the one at Apollo use polisomnography to monitor brain waves during sleep. “We have 16 parameters that help to assess sleeping patterns and identify the cause of insomnia,” added Ramasubhan.
Rajiv Roy, an IT executive, started working late from December. By February, Roy was sleeping just three hours every night. “It came down to just one till I could not get any sleep at all. After about a fortnight I felt I was losing my sanity. My psychiatrist referred to me to a sleep clinic which helped,” said Roy.
Shruti Biswas, a 48-year-old housewife, had mild insomnia when her son went off to Bangalore to study. “I kept worrying about him and started losing sleep. Sleeping pills would be enough, I thought. But it went from bad to worse and after about a month, I couldn’t sleep at all,” she said. Shruti is now under treatment at a specialized neurological centre. There are yet others who complain that they keep sleeping in fits and starts. SK Kapoor, a Kolkata-based executive, sought treatment at a city clinic after years of suffering from insomnia. “I have not slept well for years. I keep tossing and turning in bed. Lack of quality sleep makes me feel tired and I can’t concentrate on my work during the day. My energy level has gone down, too,” said the 37-year-old Kapoor.
So, how much of sleep is enough? Each individual’s needs are different, say experts. For some, five to six hours could be enough, while others may need eight to nine hours of sleep. “The only condition is that you sleep sound. Disturbed sleep is the first indication of insomnia and it should be addressed immediately,” said Ramasubhan.
If you have not been able to sleep well for more than 3-4 weeks, and it is affecting your work, it’s time to consult a doctor says Banerjee.
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