‘Sleep loss triggers aggression, anxiety, self-harm streak in teens’

Kolkata: Reduced hours of sleep is leading to several conditions and issues related to mental health, especially among teenagers and young adults. The effects can range from aggression, bullying to streaks of violence, experts in the city said.
Exposure to digital devices for longer period is a reason behind lack of sleep. Other than this, dearth in physical activities and unhealthy nutritional habits are responsible too.Various awareness initiatives on the need to sleep sufficiently have been taken up by organizations dealing with the subject across the country ahead of the World Sleep Day. "Sleep deprivation has increased among young adults and adolescents. Prolonged hours of being glued to the screen is one of the primary factors," said Sourav Das, a specialist at Somnos Sleep Clinic, Kolkata. He is also the secretary of the Calcutta Sleep Society (CSS).Experts recommend eight to ten hours of sleep for pre-teens and adolescents. However, research show the duration has reduced by two to three hours over the last decade. Doctors said inadequate sleep leads to changes in the behaviour of a person. Myofunctional and sleep specialist Somnath Maity of Institute of Sleep Science, Kolkata (DipSleep), said deformities in posture, a sedentary lifestyle and consumption of unhealthy food items also causes sleep disorders in kids. "Parents should be encouraged to prioritise healthy sleeping habits in children. They must help kids in taking up physical activities," said Pallab Chatterjee, paediatric pulmonologist, Apollo Hospital and Institute of Sleep Science. Sleep disorders can also have other compounding effects on health. "Quality sleep is must for ensuring overall wellbeing of health. In order to improve public health, sleep related issues must be diagnosed early. Awareness about the need to maintain proper and healhty sleep habits must be spread," sleep surgeon, Uttam Agarwal, president of CSS said. Various organisations have begun taking up several initiatives focussing on this year's World Sleep Day theme, which falls on March 13.