CONNECTOR.AE 36 CONNECTOR.AE 37 HEALTH AND WELLNESS HEALTH AND WELLNESS Dr. Seejo George from Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital suggests consulting a sleep expert if you experience ongoing sleep issues that impact your daily functioning, excessive tiredness, or if someone notices loud snoring or breathing interruptions during your sleep. Sleep studies are also recommended as highly effective in identifying root causes and developing tailored treatment plans. Dr. Raiza Hameed from Aster Clinic adds that signs like dozing off while driving, mood changes, forgetfulness, or having other health conditions like hypertension or diabetes, warrant medical attention. If you’ve maintained good sleep hygiene and still struggle, don’t hesitate to consult a physician. Dr. Amir Firouzjaei from Wellth believes that persistent sleep problems lasting more than four weeks, or symptoms like waking up gasping, excessive daytime fatigue, or mood disturbances should prompt a visit to a specialist. Sleep is the cornerstone of good health, and ignoring its importance can have long-term consequences. Whether caused by stress, medical conditions, or lifestyle choices, sleep disorders are treatable. With a wealth of resources available in the UAE, there’s no need to suffer in silence. Recognising the signs early, making small lifestyle adjustments, and seeking timely professional help can put you on the path to restful nights and healthier days. recommends yoga and other kinds of exercises like cardio workouts and resistance training to help reduce anxiety and other conditions that disrupt one’s sleep. According to Dr. Raiza Hameed from Aster Clinic, “Maintaining a good sleep hygiene helps in overcoming sleep disorders to an extent, which includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, limiting screen time before bed, avoiding heavy meals close to bedtime, etc. Lifestyle changes like reducing body weight helps in treating sneep apnoea”. “Shift work people should also try to maintain a regular sleep hygiene, practising short naps so that the sleep quality is maintained. Melatonin helps in maintaining consistent sleep cycles but should be taken with a doctors prescription only”, adds Dr. Raiza Hameed from Aster Clinic. Dr. Amir Firouzjaei from Wellth says, “Taking a quick, hot shower, drinking chamomile tea, eating a light and early dinner, listening to calm music, meditating, taking magnesium supplements, and many more lifestyle approaches can be effective for sleep disorders before they become chronic and lead to diseases such as insomnia”. When To Seek Professional Help Sleep disorders often go undiagnosed, either because people dismiss the symptoms or are unsure when to seek help. So when is it time to consult a sleep specialist? “Lifestyle changes like reducing body weight helps in treating sneep apnoea.” hygiene, shift work, excessive caffeine, alcohol or nicotine intake, medical causes like chronic pain, asthma, GERD, menopause, neurological disorders and some medications like stimulants, corticosteroids, antidepressants and betablockers”. “The causes behind restless leg syndrome include iron deficiency, chronic kidney disease, pregnancy, family history, medications like antidepressants, antihistamines, antipsychotics etc.”, adds Dr. Raiza Hameed from Aster Clinic. Apart from these, lifestyle factors play a major role in prolonging sleep disorders. Experts note that increased prevalence of obesity in the UAE due to increased consumption of fast food and sedentary lifestyle along with increased screen time, especially before bedtime, disrupts sleeps and worsens sleep disorders. Environmental factors like heat and sensitivity to it can also trigger sleep disorders, according to experts. “High temperatures also interfere with sleep quality, often leading to overuse of air conditioning, which doesn’t always help”, adds Dr. Seejo George from Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital. “Many expats also experience adjustment-related anxiety, which increases overthinking before bed. People often take their work mindset to bed, without creating a buffer zone for relaxation”, suggests Dr. Amir Firouzjaei fromWellth. Treatment Options And Lifestyle Changes The good news is that a wide variety of clinically approved treatment options are available across the UAE. According to Dr. Razia Hameed from Aster Clinic, “Treatment for sleep apnoea includes lifestyle modifications like weight loss, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, positional therapy by encouraging side-sleeping, smoking cessation, exercise, positive airway pressure therapy, oral appliances and devices and surgical correction in certain cases”. Dr. Seejo George from Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital recommends sleep studies for diagnosis and further treatments such as airway pressure machines, which can keep your airways open while you sleep, surgical interventions in some cases, or short-term medication under supervision, for serious cases of sleep apnoea. Dr. Seejo George from Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital also says that cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia helps change the thoughts and behaviours that lead to sleep problems. There are also non-pharmacological solutions to sleep disorders, according to the experts. Dr. Fahmidha Abdul Rahim from Thumbay Hospital “High temperatures also interfere with sleep quality, often leading to overuse of air conditioning, which doesn’t always help.”
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