ACROSS Asia Pacific (APAC) and the world, people have experienced at least one or more new sleep challenges since the beginning of Covid-19, with nearly two-thirds saying the pandemic has directly impacted their ability to sleep well.
This finding was among others announced by Royal Philips in its 6th annual sleep survey, "Seeking Solutions: How Covid-19 Changed Sleep Around the World".
As with fears and concerns in any crisis, the pandemic has exacerbated the sleep woes of people globally.
Despite the challenges, people across APAC are taking action in the quest for a better sleep – including turning to online resources and telehealth for help. People across the region face hurdles each night in getting good sleep.
For half of the respondents surveyed in APAC, their sleep patterns have been altered by the pandemic – nearly a quarter say that they now sleep less each night, with just 35 per cent feeling well-rested most of the time when waking up in the morning and 44 per cent experiencing daytime drowsiness.
Falling into a deep, continuous sleep is a challenge for many, with those surveyed facing difficulties like waking up during the night (42 per cent ) and difficulties falling asleep (33 per cent), and staying asleep (26 per cent).
"With Malaysians working from home now more than ever, most would find shutting down for the day difficult. Getting sufficient quality sleep is vital to ensure higher productivity and overall wellness. Malaysians with sleep issues should definitely look into getting diagnosed and treated for serious underlying sleep-related chronic conditions," says Philips country manager, Malaysia, Muhammad Ali Jaleel.
Worry and stress rank as the top reason for APAC adults' lack of sleep. People are being kept awake by financial challenges (54 per cent), work responsibilities (52 per cent), their own/families' health (38 per cent), and family in general (34 per cent).
To get a better night's sleep, people in APAC are now experimenting with a variety of methods, including playing soothing music, reading, watching television, having a set bedtime/wake-up schedule, reducing caffeine consumption and using sleep trackers or monitoring their sleep.
They are also turning towards telehealth and online health resources to
address sleep issues.
With the increased reliance on telehealth during the pandemic, six in ten respondents expressed a willingness to seek help for sleep related concerns in future from a sleep specialist via telehealth services, although many have yet to take that step.
"The tools required to deliver telehealth efficiently and reliably already exist, and the interest from consumers is apparent, particularly in the face of Covid-19," says Philips chief medical liaison for sleep and respiratory care Dr Teofilo Lee-Chiong.
When used properly, sleep telehealth has the potential to enhance efficiency and quality of care, improve health outcomes, empower patients to make informed decisions, and provide equitable healthcare for all, he adds.
While people in APAC are positively seeking ways to address sleep issues, fear continues to hinder individuals from getting diagnosed for sleep conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
One in three (31 per cent) are afraid to take a sleep test as they don't want to know if they have OSA, with 28 per cent believing it is not necessary to be treated for OSA.
As a seldom-discussed, under-diagnosed condition, OSA is characterised by repeated interruptions in breathing throughout the sleep cycle, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs .
To learn more about the Global Sleep Survey visit Philips.com/WorldSleepDay.
Find comfortable beddings at cheaper costs using Shopee Promo Codes.