Dubai, UAE: Experts at Medcare are urging individuals to recognise symptoms of sleep disorders and take timely action to avoid negative effects of sleep deprivation on physical and emotional wellbeing.

“Sleep deprivation is a serious concern affecting a great majority of individuals residing in the UAE. Unfortunately, many patients are unaware of the fact that sleep deprivation can lead to sleep disorders, and ignore symptoms,” said Dr. Hady Jerdak, Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases and Sleep Medicine at Medcare Hospital. “A lack of sleep can weaken the immune system’s defences against viruses, increase the risk for high blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes, and even lead to issues directly related to heart disease. Daytime headaches, frustration, and lack of concentration are all symptoms that could hint to more serious health problems.”

One study found that one in four people residing in the UAE suffer from some form or symptom of sleep disorders. The most common of them is obstructive sleep apnea which causes the individual to snore heavily, suffer from day-time fatigue and morning headaches, and even stop breathing while asleep.

“We advise people to pay close attention to signs of chronic fatigue. While many people may simply need to catch up on a few missed hours, experiencing sleeping problems repeatedly may be indicative of an underlying health problem. Increased stress levels, mood swings, and anxiety can also cause sleeping disorders. The reverse is also true, with sleeping problems often leading to anxiety disorders.” added Dr. Hady Jerdak

Some of the common types of sleep disorders include:

  • Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which breathing stops or gets very shallow during sleep. These breathing pauses last between 10 to 20 seconds or more.

  • Insomnia: Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder in which the person has difficulty falling asleep or staying Asleep.

  • Restless leg syndrome (RLS): Restless leg syndrome is a disorder characterized by a tingling or prickly sensation in the legs and an urge or need to move the legs.

  • Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime drowsiness and sudden onset of sleep.

  • Parasomnias: This refers to abnormal behaviours that occur during sleep. Parasomnias include nightmares, night terrors, sleep walking, and sleep talking, head banging, wetting the bed and grinding teeth.

Sleep Disorder treatment can be classified into two main categories: pharmacological treatment and non-pharmacological treatment. Pharmacological treatment includes any prescription or non-prescription medications to help prevent the onset of the symptoms or treat the developed symptoms. Depending on the type of disorder, treatment could include Hypnotics (in case the condition is related to insomnia), or stimulants (in case the condition is related to narcolepsy or sleep apnea). Non-pharmacological sleep treatment refers to those options that do not require the use of prescription or non-prescription drugs. These may include behavioural therapy, medical equipment like CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), surgery, and other options.

Medcare sleep clinic offers assessments to help individuals better understand the extent of their symptoms. Customized treatment plans for individual needs and comprehensive care services that cater to a number of sleep disorders including sleep apnea and insomnia are available to ensure patients receive the care they need.

[i]The sleep survey, commissioned by Swedish retailer Ikea

[ii]Gedeon, Joseph. “24% Suffer from Sleep Disorder in UAE.” PressReader.com - Connecting People Through News, Apr. 2016, www.pressreader.com/uae/gulf-news/20160409/281487865504541.

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About Medcare

Medcare is the premium healthcare division of Aster DM Healthcare, a global healthcare group with presence in 9 countries including the Middle East, India and Africa. Medcare has 4 Multispecialty Hospitals, 4 Specialty Centres and 9 Medical Centres across Dubai and Sharjah. With a team of 300+ outstanding doctors and top-notch medical technology, Medcare offers world-class healthcare services to patients of all ages.

© Press Release 2018