Pune (Voice News Service): Taking into consideration rising number of people with memory and sleep disorders , MMF Hospitals Association- Joshi Hospital has inaugurated a Memory and Sleep Clinic. The clinic was launched in presence of Dr D.V ( Lala ) Telang ,Dr Arvind S. Phadke & Dr Subhash S. Kale Founder Trustee MMF Hospitals Association Dr. Ashish Atre and Mr. Shrikrishna R.Chitale , Director MMF Hospital Association, Dr. Poornima Gauri, Consultant Neurologist , Dr. Shalini Pawar – Chief Operating Officer, MMF Hospital Association Dr. Vijay Agrawal – Administrator MMF Hospital Association JOSHI HOSPITAL and staff members .
The Sleep clinic will address all issues related to sleep disorders including primary insomnia, anxiety related sleep problems and other disorders. The Memory Clinic will include memory assessment and address issues related to progressive dementia, reversible dementia etc. The clinic is well supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities including lab test, neuro -physiological evaluation, imaging and availability of expert neuro physician , neuropsychologist, clinical evaluation in case of sleep disorders etc .
Good sleep important for overall health – Dr. Poornima Gauri
It is said that ‘Sleep’ is the panasia of all problems. If we have good sleep , we feel fresh the next day . While consulting any patient we ask history about certain habits like smoking , alchohol . But seldom we ask about Sleep history. Sleep is one of the essential good habits of any individual. Sleep is therefore important for overall health opined Dr. Poornima Gauri .
As far as memory is concerned , our identity is like a bundle of memories including events , procedural, episodic and verbal memory. Anybody can be affected by memory problems. This does not mean that they have dementia. There are reversible memory problems as well which can be addressed .
She added that faulty lifestyle, working for different time zones, work from home culture, irregular meal times, increased screen time across all ages faulty lifestyle is adding to sleep and memory issues . Post the Covid era we have seen a spike in such cases including those with B12 deficiency.
In this day and age, one simple thing which could be of help is to keep a sleep diary which would include the time of sleep , waking up and whether I am feeling fresh after I wake up . If you find issues in sleeping well for more than eight to ten days in a month, it is time you approach for consultation. In case of memory one should approach a doctor if one is forgetting in such a way that it is upsetting day to day work, she said .
Apart from sleep apnoea , inadequate sleep being able to sleep late, ,excessive dreams , waking up with slightest noises etc. are also some common types of sleep disorders which can be treated properly. Those individuals who have sleep issues need to follow what is called ‘Sleep Hygiene’ which includes avoiding heavy exercises in the evening , putting their screens off after 9 pm , avoiding stimulants like tea in the evening etc . Once the patients come to us they are clinically evaluated including their behavior because of sleep disorders and then the treatment which is in the form of medicines is designed. If the patient has comorbidities then the medicines are decided accordingly.
Lifestyle changes are a key to avoid such disorders. Exercise is important not only to the body but also to the mind. Following a good balanced diet, addressing the issues related to sleep at early stage and cutting down the screen time or screen hygiene are equally important. Screen hygiene includes taking a break from the screen every one / one and the half hours, avoiding screen multitasking ( two screens at time for eg. TV and Mobile and Mobile and Computer ) . If one is unable to sleep , instead of tossing and turning , we advise patients to read some book of their liking, but not from emited light like that of a mobile phone , but a hard copy of the book. Infact we should come to terms with the fact that bed is for sleeping and not sitting and browsing our mobiles.
