Mumbai: Sleep disorders are emerging as one of the most overlooked public health concerns in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, affecting between 45 and 50 lakh people across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, according to specialists at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai.
Experts added that 80 to 90 per cent of these cases remain undiagnosed as symptoms such as loud snoring and excessive daytime fatigue are often dismissed as normal as awareness and access to specialised sleep services remain low.
The problem was found to be particularly prevalent among working professionals in corporates where long working hours, irregular sleep schedules, stress and sedentary lifestyles have significantly increased the risk of sleep disorders.
According to Apollo Hospitals, nearly one in five middle-aged working men and women are estimated to be at high risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
Medical experts from the hospital chain cautioned that untreated sleep apnoea can increase the risk of major cardiovascular complications by two to three times, making early diagnosis critical.
Dr. Jayalakshmi T. K., Senior Consultant – Pulmonology, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai said, “Snoring should never be dismissed as a harmless habit. In many individuals, it is the body’s warning signal that breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, depriving the brain and heart of oxygen. Left untreated, sleep apnoea can increase the risk of resistant hypertension, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and sudden cardiac events.”
