Sleep can be one of the underrated aspects of people’s lives, but for those who have sleep problems, getting enough sleep can be a real challenge.
World Sleep Day aims to help those who have sleep problems, educate people all over about the importance of sleep, and change the way people view and experience sleep by giving people valuable resources to help them in their daily lives.
History of World Sleep Day
World Sleep Day focuses on the issues related to sleep, sleep medicine, education about sleep, and the social effects that sleep deprivation can have on everyday life.
According to the American Sleep Association, over 50 to 70 million people have a sleeping disorder, over 25 million have sleep apnea, and the most commonly reported sleep problem is insomnia.
Organized by the World World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society, the holiday started with a group of health professionals and providers studying in the area of sleep medicine and sleep research.
World Sleep Day aims to bring people together, from everyday people to healthcare providers, to discuss and help those with sleep problems find solutions.
Doctors such as Liborio Parrino, MD, Italy, and Antonio Culebras, MD, were the first co-chair members of World Sleep Day and aided in creating the World Sleep Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping fund research for ever-pervading sleep problems faced in today’s world.
Hosted since 2007, World Sleep Day is a global awareness act that celebrates sleep and aims to help those with serious sleep problems. Celebrated on the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox of each year, this holiday has an annual 155 events held across the world and is participated by over 70 countries.
The World Sleep Society works with various news organizations to help them spread the word and report about the effects sleep can have on day-to-day life.
The World Sleep Society recommends the following 10 steps to achieve healthy sleep
- Fix a bedtime and an awakening time.
- If you are in the habit of taking a nap, do not exceed 45 minutes of daytime sleep.
- Avoid excessive alcohol ingestion 4 hours before bedtime and do not smoke.
- Avoid caffeine 6 hours before bedtime. This includes coffee, tea and many sodas, as well as chocolate.
- Avoid heavy, spicy, or sugary foods 4 hours before bedtime. A light snack before bed is acceptable.
- Exercise regularly, but not right before bed.
- Use comfortable bedding.
- Find a comfortable temperature setting for sleeping and keep the room well ventilated.
- Block out all distracting noise and eliminate as much light as possible.
- Reserve the bed for sleep and sex. Don’t use the bed as an office, workroom or recreation room.
