Changes in food, pollution not letting us sleep well

CHENNAI: There are conventional and unconventional causes for insomnia or sleeplessness. Unconventional reasons are mostly dietary and lifestyle-related as opposed to traditional causes, which include diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and family history.

In recent decades, there has been a rapid increase in the number of bakeries and restaurants all over the city as well as across Tamil Nadu. From a very young age, children have been accustomed to foods that are not home-cooked and confectionery items, and this habit has not ceased to increase. Such lifestyle changes compounded with sleeplessness are attributed to many health issues.

Dr S Aravind, Cardiologist, Apollo Specialty Hospitals said even though the children might engage in sports in high school or college, as they approach their 30s, their priorities change and they adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. “We are witnessing numerous youngsters suffering from cardiac arrest and brain strokes both during and after the Covid-19 pandemic,” he pointed out.

He added that it was caused by the viral infection in those who were predisposed to cardiac arrests. Just like smoking, pollution also can damage the heart. People who travel long on two-wheelers are often exposed to prolonged inhalation of emissions. The pollutants get deployed in their respiratory and intestinal tracts, causing trouble.

Given that air pollution causes upper airway irritation, swelling and congestion, and may also affect the parts of the brain and central nervous system that control breathing patterns and sleep, it seems likely that air pollution is detrimental to sleep.