SLEEP ALL NIGHT » World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day

Sleep Master — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:14:03 +0000

Watch Video: Public Service Annoucement on the importance of sleep

World Sleep Day 2008

World Sleep Day 2010

Sleep Master — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 02:42:39 +0000

WORLD SLEEP DAY 2010

World Sleep Day is celebrated on the Friday before Spring starts

Plan to participate again next year as we celebrate sleep on Friday, March 19, 2010

If you are interested in partnering with the World Association of Sleep Medicine in sponsoring the 2010 World Sleep Day please contact Allan O’Byran at allan.obryan@charter.net

A limited number of top sponsorship opportunities are available.

What will be discussed on World Sleep Day 2010?

Insomnia is defined as having difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or persistently unrefreshing sleep. One of the more common sleep disorders, the daytime consequences include not feeling refreshed, irritability, fatigue, and inattention.

Narcolepsy is characterized by severe degrees of excessive sleepiness. There may be associated sudden loss of muscle tone and paralysis of voluntary muscles triggered by emotions like laughing. Patients experience a desire to sleep that is overwhelming and requires frequent naps during the day to feel refreshed.

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder that causes individuals to stop breathing repeatedly, even hundreds of times, during their sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a blockage of the airway, which disrupts sleep and causes drops of oxygen in the body.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is characterized by an irresistible urge to move the legs which is often accompanied by unusual or unpleasant sensations in the legs and is much worse in the evenings; moving the legs provides temporary relief. RLS most often occurs in the evening and at night which causes a sever disruption to sleep.

Chronic Insufficient Sleep is due to life style demands, stress and the rigors of society when individuals receive less than the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night.

Last update Nov 22, 2009

World Sleep Day 2009

Sleep Master — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:07:25 +0000

(Cont’d from World Sleep Day Part 1)

The slogan of the March 2009 World Sleep Day is:

“Drive alert, arrive safe”

The following information is compiled from the World Sleep Day press release:

Things to remember: Better sleep could cut serious road accidents by a third
News Release by World Association of Sleep Medicine, New York, United States, Friday 20th March, 2009:

Improved diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders could help to cut fatal or serious road traffic accidents by up to one third.
The announcement has been made on the second annual World Sleep Day, an international event aimed at raising awareness of the burden and impact of sleep disorders.
World Sleep Day is an annual event to raise awareness of the importance of sleep for good health. This year’s slogan is ‘Drive alert, arrive safe’.
The event is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders.
The day also highlights the dangers of drowsy driving which can lead to accidents caused by people suffering next day effects of sleep problems, such as excessive daytime sleepiness and poor concentration.

Catesby Ware, Chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, USA says:

‘In the USA, 40,000-50,000 people die yearly in traffic accidents
Up to 20% are thought related to fatigue and tiredness
Sleepiness, like drinking alcohol, destabilizes the car’s position on the road
Experiencing sleepiness whilst driving and driving under the influence of alcohol are similarly deadly.’

To help cut the risk of sleepiness while driving, Ware emphasizes the importance of understanding what is needed to ensure wakefulness when driving. Among other things he said:

‘Just as important as knowing how to get a good night of sleep, is learning what it takes to stay awake.
These include getting sufficient, quality sleep,
- having regular bed and rising times,
- taking regular breaks when driving, and
- using caffeine judiciously.’

Road Accidents:

Insomnia, one of the most common sleep complaints has been linked to a significant rise in road traffic accidents:

35% of all accidents are caused by drivers who have not had enough sleep or have not had restorative (quality) sleep
Poor alertness and efficiency, caused by poor quality sleep, raise the risk of vehicle or occupational accidents
As a result, tiredness while driving is responsible for a large number of accidents and deaths
People with insomnia are also up to 7 times more likely to be involved in work accidents that cause serious injury or death.

Global Problems due to Sleep

Sleep problems constitute a global epidemic that threatens health and quality of life for up to 45% of the world’s population
As well as causing distress to the individual, sleep problems also create significant burden on society
Sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and psychophysiological insomnia are among the most common alterations of sleep
Paradoxically, research suggests that less than a third of people with moderate to severe sleep problems seek professional help for their sleep problems.[5]

Sleep Quality

Poor quality of sleep or insufficient sleep can also have a negative effect on the health of an individual
In the US it is estimated that direct and indirect costs of insomnia amount to $107.5 billion dollars
Sleep deprivation has been associated with decline in mental health and people with insomnia are more likely to suffer symptoms of depression and anxiety
Other links have been made between sleep deprivation and conditions such as obesity, diabetes and weakened immune systems. Insomnia and other sleep disorders can also have a negative impact on overall quality of life and family and social relationships. However, most sleep disorders are preventable or treatable, yet less than a third of sufferers seek professional help
World Sleep Day aims to reduce the burden of sleep disorders on society by encouraging better understanding of sleep conditions and calling for more research into sleep medicine and treatment.

Watch Video: Dr. J. Catesby Ware (Eastern Virginia Medical School)
Death by Sleep

World Sleep Day 2008

Sleep Master — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:43:01 +0000

World Sleep Day is an international annual event, intended to be a celebration of sleep, sleep problems , and treatment of sleep disorders.

The first World Sleep Day was launched on March 14th 2008
It aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders
Sleep quality and sleep quantity are important.

March 21, first day of the spring season was a day to OPEN YOUR EYES FOR SLEEP. The change of wintertime to summertime confronts people with the consequences of sleep deprivation. This year, extra attention was drawn to the relation between a good night sleep to the HEART function.

The purpose of the World Sleep Day 2009 is to call for action on any and all important issues related to sleep, including, but not limited to the following:

sleep medication
sleep education
social aspects of sleep disorders
insomnia, anxiety, snoring, and other problems
drawsing driving
shift work
productivity vs. sleep
personal relationship
parenting

World Sleep Day 2009 is being held on March 20th, under the slogan ‘Drive alert, arrive safe’.

This year’s theme is transportation, focusing on safety, travel and driving alertness
1,500,000 people world-wide are killed due to drawsing driving, 40 to 50,000 only in North America
Events involving local groups took place in public settings around the world and online with the unveiling of:
- declaration
- presentation of educational materials
- exhibition of videos.

The World Sleep Day declaration is as follows:

Whereas, sleepiness and sleeplessness constitute a global epidemic that threatens health and quality of life
Whereas, much can be done to prevent and treat sleepiness and sleeplessness
Whereas, professional and public awareness are the firsts steps to action
Whereby DECLARE that the disorders of sleep are preventable and treatable medical conditions in every country of the world.

The Belgian Association for the Study of Sleep contributed to the Sleep Day by the following initiative:

Inviting sleep centers to organize information sessions
Some sleep centers have opened their doors, others invited people to a central place in the town or in the hospital for a speakers’ corner or a PowerPoint presentation.
Questionnaires have been distributed to the visiting public.
Filling out these questionnaire helped people to decide whether they had a reason to consult their familyl doctors about their sleeplessness or sleepiness.

Watch Videos: Introduction to World Sleep Day, March 21, 2008

Watch Video: Introduction to World Sleep Day, March20, 2009