Sunday, 30 JUNE 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital has established a sleep lab, also known as polysomnography, in the hospital premises. Providing the information, the medical superintendent of GDMC hospital Dr Anurag Aggarwal said that the hospital administration had been planning to establish the sleep lab for a long time. However, due to the model code of conduct for the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the process took longer than expected. He informed that the sleep lab has been established recently at the hospital.
He further informed that currently, the sleep lab has not started functioning as only the necessary equipment has been set up but there is no technician or specialised doctor to operate the machine. To address this issue, the proposal for hiring specialised doctors has been sent to the authorities concerned. It is expected that the appointment of a specialised doctor for the sleep lab will be made within 15 days, and the lab will start functioning immediately. Aggarwal further added that the testing of sleep disorders in patients will be conducted at night in the sleep lab.
Commenting about the patients suffering from sleep disorder, Aggarwal stated that patients dealing with sleep disorders should undergo testing at a sleep lab. While it’s normal for individuals to snore during sleep, those with sleep disorders not only snore loudly but also wake up unknowingly. Additionally, sleep disorders can lead to other health issues such as irregular heartbeat, uncontrolled diabetes and lack of sleep at night. Aggarwal emphasised the importance of sleep hygiene in preventing sleep disorders, recommending that individuals sleep in their own beds, avoid using mobile phones at night and refrain from consuming alcohol, tea and coffee before bedtime. He also noted that sleep disorders are more common in males due to alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyles and obesity, and advised those affected to prioritise weight loss efforts.
