- Researchers discovered a significant association between insomnia and sleep hygiene.
- Avoiding the usage of bright screens and electronic gadgets 2-3 hours before bedtime helps people cope with sleeplessness.
Insomnia is one of the most common but neglected psychological conditions among older adults, females, and people with mental illnesses. According to a 2016 study, 10%-20% of the worldwide population is affected by insomnia and other sleeping disorders.
Researchers at the department of community medicine of BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, discovered a significant association between insomnia and sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene is maintaining a daily routine and having a bedroom environment that promotes consistent and uninterrupted sleep.
They interviewed 208 individuals among which 27.9% of participants reported that they very frequently experienced sleeplessness. Meanwhile, 51.4 % reported feeling sleepy and tired at least 2 days a week; 57.2% of respondents said that they slept for 5-7 hours. 55% of participants claimed that they read books, magazines in bed; and 78% mentioned that they needed a quiet environment to sleep.
“About 47.9% respondents strongly agreed that sleep was very important to them and that it largely impacted their health and work lives,” said Dr. Dhaval Parekh, senior resident doctor BJ medical college. About 37.8 % respondents said they avoided using bright screens and gadgets at least 2-3 hours before bedtime.
National Health Service (NHS) experts suggest decreasing the screen time before bed to cope up with sleeplessness.