2 weeks Ago By Allison Co
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rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-1" );MANILA, Philippines – Are you running on little sleep? Well if so, you’re not alone; so is the rest of the country. The Philippines ranks first in Southeast Asia and fourth globally as the “most sleep deprived” nation, the Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine Inc (PSSMI) said.
“When left unchecked it can get worse,” said PSSMI president Dr. Jimmy Chang, calling it a “sleep epidemic.” “If we don’t emphasize the importance of sleep, Filipinos will always sacrifice sleep for something else.
” Two of the most common sleep disorders Filipinos experience are insomnia, the difficulty in falling asleep; and sleep apnea,snoring while sleeping or still feeling tired when waking up. Is eight hours of sleep enough?A good sleep however is not defined by its duration alone. While the recommended hours of sleep for adults are between seven to nine hours, the timing of your sleep is also crucial.
“We have to follow the day and night cycle. We are meant to sleep at night or be awake during the day,” Chang explained.He also emphasized the importance of the quality or depth of sleep.
One should avoid these most common sleep disruptors among Filipinos — using gadgets right before bedtime, drinking caffeine in the afternoon, consuming alcohol regularly, and even going to the gym for your late-night workouts. “You can’t engage in a strenuous activity at least four hours before going to bed. This is because your body pumps up your adrenaline so much it would cause difficulty in making you relax for sleep,” Chang said.
According to PSSMI, insufficient sleep leads to higher health risks of developing hypertension, strokes, heart diseases, and even cancer. Can we afford sleep in this economy?window.rapplerAds.
displayAd( "middle-2" );window.rapplerAds.displayAd( "mobile-middle-2" );But let’s be realistic, can Filipinos afford to sleep well and early? Hence why, Chang argued that sleep deprivation in the country is no longer just a personal issue, it’s a social one.
“In our culture, there’s a misconception about sleep and its importance. Sinasabi pa nga nila (They even say) sleep is for the weak.” The current work culture and education system in the country also play a role.
Work hours often applied within BPO companies adapt to the Western time, forcing more and more Filipinos to work night shifts.“Children are sleep deprived too, eventually. Teenagers, usually in high school, need to sleep at least eight hours and their sleep patterns are later.
But then again, the structure of our education system is that classes start early. They even need to leave for school earlier because of traffic,” Chang cited. Is sleep really just for the weak? In 2023, the Senate Bill 2063 or the Sleep Disorder Awareness and Education Act was introduced but is still yet to be passed.
For Chang, once passed, this could be a great first step in PSSMI’s goal. “This bill is very exciting for our Society because it now instructs the Department of Health to give us more priority in order to know how big the problem is and now to also have the capability to address the problem,” he said. PSSMI president Dr.
Jimmy Chang (left, standing) during the World Sleep Day press conference.Celebrating its 23rd year, the PSSMI continues to advocate sleep health and calls on for more government support and budget for more research, sleep specialists, and sleep centers not just within Metro Manila. And so, with public awareness and government support, it becomes possible to change the perception that sleep is only for the weak.
As Chang explained, “Sleep is essential for survival. It is non-negotiable. It is like drinking water or breathing air.
” – Rappler.com.
