Sleep disorder may cause shorter lifespan

MANILA, Philippines - Adequate sleep — not too short but not too much also — is essential to good health and may enhance one’s lifespan.

A sleep expert revealed that sleeping less than four hours and more than nine hours a day can be a risk factor that can shorten one’s lifespan in adults.  

Dr. Michael Sarte, president of the Sleep Society of the Philippines and consultant director of the Center for Snoring and Sleep Disorder of the Medical City Hospital, headed focus group discussions or FGDs on sleep awareness at the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City recently.

The FGD also tackled ramelteon, a new prescription drug that helps patients with sleep problems to develop the right kind of sleep. It is the first-ever prescription sleep agent that has no “knockdown effect” and induces sleep the natural way.

Sarte said eight hours of sleep is now not always applicable for adults especially those working for long hours.

“It is not true that you need to sleep eight hours. But you should remember that if you sleep less than four hours and more than nine hours a day, it’s not already healthy. It may even shorten one’s lifespan according to (clinical) studies,” he said.

Sarte stressed that sleep hygiene is also important as a non-drug enhancer of sleep together with sleep agents like ramelteon. Sleep hygiene includes avoidance of alcohol, caffeine and cigarette smoking. The bedroom should also be maintained as a dim, quiet and comfortable place conducive to sleeping.

According to Sarte, prolonged sleep deprivation has adverse effects on one’s ability to function properly, and this usually shows on the third day.

He pointed out that on the patient’s third day of sleep deprivation, cognitive and logical thinking problems can manifest, impairing one’s thinking capability, judgment, and decision-making. 

Ramelteon is a prescription sleep drug that does not require an S2 number or any special license which other sleep inducers such as tranquilizers and sedatives require.

The recommended dose is one tablet (8mg) once daily before bedtime. This dose has been shown by clinical trials to be effective and well tolerated in treating sleep disorders.

Ramelteon is manufactured and marketed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese company known worldwide for its strong research and development, and advanced technology.