The GP Show #189 Sleep with Professor Shantha Rajaratnam
Jan 12, 2025
Professor Shantha Rajaratnam, a leading expert in Sleep and Circadian Medicine from Monash University, discusses the modern sleep crisis. He highlights how technology and lifestyle changes have adversely affected sleep quality across generations. The conversation delves into the impact of caffeine on sleep health and the significance of understanding individual chronotypes. Rajaratnam shares practical strategies for optimizing sleep without medication, addressing common sleep disorders and the disruptive role of blue light from screens. Tune in for valuable insights into improving your sleep!
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Population Sleep Deficit Is Widespread
- Around one-third to 45% of Australian adults report inadequate sleep or poor sleep quality.
- The CDC reports about 38% of US adults have inadequate sleep, showing population-level decline.
Young People Face The Biggest Sleep Risk
- Adolescents and young adults are especially vulnerable to worsening sleep because development increases sleep need.
- Sleep deprivation in development has significant long-term consequences for brain and emotional health.
Sleep Influences Nearly Every System
- Sleep is a third pillar of health with wide-ranging effects on brain and body systems.
- Poor sleep links to accidents, mental illness, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction and immune problems.