Today's office goers are no strangers to long working hours and stress. At times, they do not even realize how such stress and hectic lifestyle can take a toll on their health.
The urban corporate culture has brought along with it several illnesses. Insomnia is very common among these. Despite the fact that insomnia is a widespread public health concern, it largely remains undetected and is consequently unaddressed in clinical practice.
While other lifestyle-related disorders such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity receive considerable attention due to the fact that the symptoms are visible and diagnosis can be undertaken with ease, insomnia remains less so.This lack of sleep is associated with substantial impairment in an individual's quality of life. That in turn impacts health, work and healthcare costs. Focus is required on this segment of corporate employees who are prone to sleep disturbances.
Results of a survey recently conducted among Indian corporate employees to determine the prevalence of insomnia, co-morbid medical conditions, personal habits of patients with insomnia and the impact of insomnia on various day-to-day activities highlights the rise of this urban malaise. The survey results shown below depict the impact of insomnia. It also signifies how and why addressing the issue is necessary.
The main findings show that 13.8 per cent of corporate employees surveyed had insomnia. Among them, 96.4 per cent remained undiagnosed and therefore undetected. On further investigation, it was revealed that the majority insomnia sufferers agreed that insufficient sleep affected their health and work performance, participation in household duties and their relationship with family or friends. Personal life and daily activities were affected. Alcohol consumption was observed to be significantly higher in people with insomnia.
Clinicians do not always query primary care patients about insomnia and other sleep disorders though such a step would help ensure early detection and subsequent treatment. Co-morbid conditions seen among participants were hypertension, anxiety, depression, asthma, diabetes and coronary heart disease. Of these, anxiety, hypertension and depression were the most common. These health conditions were also found to be significantly higher in participants with insomnia than those without insomnia.
Insomnia also has been shown to negatively affect daytime functioning, including workplace productivity, as well as workplace and public safety.
Dr. N. Yardi, principal investigator of the insomnia study, pointed out a social and economic burden on insomnia sufferers. He feels that this is a lifestyle disorder that would benefit from conscious awareness. In addition, the sufferer ends up being saddled with costs incurred on account of daytime effects of the night-time insomnia. The observation is of significance for managed care organizations and healthcare providers.
In other words, sleep disturbances have to be addressed as part of overall corporate health and wellness goals. Thus, there is an underlying need to have an optimum corporate wellness program to ensure a healthy workforce. The data constitutes a wake-up call for India's working professionals. Lack of sleep, therefore, requires prompt medical help since healthy lifestyle choices and medical assistance are required to alleviate the problem of insomnia.
Corporates need a wake up call in order to deal with their internal Employee Wellness Quotient.
Workplace Wellness programs which ensure that employees maintain a healthy work-life balance can help reduce absenteeism, improve productivity, reduce escalating health care costs; increase employee well-being and reduce attrition.
A recent corporate survey indicated that 13.8% of the employees suffered from Insomnia. It also revealed that among this segment 96.4% corporate employees who had Insomnia remained undiagnosed and therefore undetected.
What is insomnia?Insomnia is a disorder of inadequate sleep (poor quantity or quality) that can result in impairment of daytime function or in emotional distress.
Blame it on the lifestyle or stress, mobile or TV screens, but the fact remains that insomnia is a deeply ingrained problem that requires urgent action
Some suggestions for insomnia sufferers:
· Regular exercise in morning or afternoon
· Relaxing bedtime activities
· Increase exposure to bright light during the day
· Comfortable sleep environment: should be dark, cool, quiet and safe
· Comfortable bed
· Warm bath before bed
· No strenuous exercise three hours before bed
· No eating or drinking three hours before bed
· No stimulants: caffeine or nicotine or alcohol
· No daytime napping
· Limit exposure to bright light at night
