According to a local study, nearly one third (30.2%) of South Africans struggle with nocturnal sleep problems, with far-reaching implications for mood, concentration, productivity and long-term cardiovascular health.
While many people dismiss poor sleep as a normal part of modern life, Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, Psychiatrist at Mediclinic Constantiaberg, cautions that chronic sleep disruption can be more serious than it appears.
“We are all allowed to have a couple of nights per week where we don’t sleep enough,” he explains. “However, a medical diagnosis of insomnia may be applicable for those suffering more than two nights a week, resulting in daytime symptoms such as fatigue, sleepiness, and an impact on day-to-day life.”
Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, psychiatrist at Mediclinic Constantiaberg, warns that chronic sleep disruption can have a significant impact on daily functioning and overall health, including increasing the risk of depression, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.
He adds that, according to international diagnostic criteria, these symptoms must persist for at least one month before insomnia can be formally diagnosed.
