`Sleep Is All About Science’
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Many Koreans pay little attention to disturbances they experience during sleep, compared to other advanced countries.
But a doctor here said some diseases that most people believe, are merely minor disorders during sleep can be developed into a gruesome attack to their health.
``Few are aware that sleep talking, teeth-clenching and snoring are diseases,'' said Han Jin-kyu, a sleep specialist and director of the Seoul Sleep Center in Nonhyeon-dong, southern Seoul, in a recent interview with The Korea Times. ``Those symptoms are directly linked to myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes, heart attack and even stroke.''
Noting that sleeping offers the brain and heart time to rest, Han said, ``During sleep, the heartbeat slows down and the brain almost stops working."
``But once an individual starts snoring, talking or grinding teeth, the brain turns from dormant to active, sending messages to wake up other organs including the heart. If this vicious circle continues, the heart and brain suffer from rest deprivation, inviting heart attacks and even strokes,'' he said.
Lethal Snore
Almost six out of every 10 patients visiting the clinic suffer from snoring-caused sleep deprivation, Han said. ``Snoring is the most common complaint of the majority of Koreans coming to the clinic.''
``The snoring sound is generated by the oscillation of the uvula with the tonsils and tongue drawn against the airway. Swollen tonsils or nose congestion interrupts air circulation in the air passages, causing the reduction of blood oxygen levels,'' he said.
``Once the brain is aware that the blood oxygen level is decreasing, it makes heart and lungs work extra fast to supply more oxygen to the blood. This impedes deep, restorative and recuperative sleep, imposing substantial fatigue on the heart and brain. In conclusion, patients who snore severely easily fall victim to death through heart paralysis and apoplexy,'' the sleep expert said.
People with snoring-caused respiration disorders have common symptoms, he said.
First, they sleep with their mouth's open to get enough oxygen. Second, they sleep on their sides rather than backs to secure enough room to breathe through the air passages. Third, they frequently wake from sleep to urinate because their activated lungs squeeze their bladder. Lastly, they have dry mouths when they wake up in the morning.
How to Have Sound Sleep?
The sleep specialist advises that the best sleeping hours are between midnight and 5 a.m.
``Sleeping between midnight and 5 a.m. offers the most efficient and restorative sleep. The sun usually rises around 5 a.m. Once our visual nerve is exposed to light, our brain secretes a waking-up hormone. Late sleepers usually sleep longer than those falling asleep during the five hours but the sleep they have is shallow and less restorative,'' he said.
The expert introduced five tips for a good night's sleep.
(1) Expose yourself to the sunshine more than a half hour in the morning. (2) Concentrate on your daily work and seek out enjoyable activities. (3) Exercise regularly. (4) Keep your lights dim at home and take a half-bath two hours before sleeping. (5) Don't worry if you can't fall asleep quickly.
``A good night's sleep is the result of what one eats, thinks, experiences and last night's sleeping time and so on. It cannot be achieved through one night's effort,'' he said.
As of 2007, there are seven hospitals handling sleep disorders and related symptoms in Korea.
According to the Korean Academy of Sleep Medicine, the industry showed an annual growth rate of 30 percent on average.
But the sleeping clinic is still excluded from public and private insurance coverage.
``Each sleeping checkup costs at least 500,000 won and treatment device prices more,'' he said. ``In Korea, sleep disorder treatment is not covered by public and private insurances, while those are covered in other developed nations including the U.S.''
Noting that foreigners living in Korea are relatively free to access the treatment without financial burden, he said, ``Many Koreans with sleep disorders, except for the rich, are still hesitant to get the medical treatment due to its high medical costs.''
Some private insurance firms here began covering the costs required to have a polysomnography, and to buy the treatment device from last year.