For a better sleep, tech has new lullaby

March 16 is a significant day in the celebratory calendar because it is observed as World Sleeping Day, as declared by the World Sleep Society. The day celebrates probably the most important, yet completely ignored, physiological functions and promotes a call-to-action on important sleep related issues.

The world today has glamourised sleep deprivation, what with US President Donald Trump, and closer home, our very own PM Narendra Modi, along with a host of business leaders and startup founders proudly stating that they just sleep just 4-5 hours each day. Each individual, however, has different physiological needs and on an average, an adult human should try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep.

Numerous studies have shown us how important sleep can be. Not only does it revitalise our bodies, it also gives the brain time to sort through all the information it has received throughout a hectic day. With our lives becoming increasingly mobile and multi-task oriented, getting the recommended eight hours can be difficult, and even when we do, the quality of our sleep might not be what it should be.

"Sleep is a non-negotiable condition that warrants wellness and prevents diseases," according to Liborio Parrino, MD and Associate Professor of Neurology at Parma University in Italy. Unfortunately, today's fast paced lifestyle often blurs the line between work and rest, thereby reducing sleep to a perceived time-wasting activity.

Nothing can be further from the truth as sleep is a vital rejuvenating function of our body that helps it to create, distribute and store energy while providing different organs with the much-needed 'recuperation' time. So, how can we make people fall in love with sleeping again?

Technology, it seems, has the answer. The world over, there has been a rapid growth in the number of sleep-related apps, devices and products which, rather than interfering with our sleep patterns, are in fact helping people to sleep better.

Replacing yesteryear's melody clocks or lullaby jukeboxes, these technologies have given rise to a robust sleep industry around the world. Sleep labs all over the world have reported 4-6% growth, and according to a McKinsey report, the sleep-health economy is collectively estimated to be worth $30-40 billion, and has historically reported a year-on-year growth of 8%, with few signs of slowing down.

Sleep innovators

The sleep-health economy offers a three-pronged solution structure: ambience optimisation, routine modification and therapeutic treatment. The first segment has given birth to a myriad of products, ranging from ambient light filters equipped with soothing music, interactive beds that gauge the body temperature as well as discomfort of an individual and alter the sleeping position to guarantee a good night's rest.

However, the most impactful change has come in the mattress market, with great innovation and better product designs turning your bed into a sleep sanctuary.

In India, this mantle has been taken up by sleep innovators such as Wakefit which has guaranteed sound sleep through its uniquely structured proprietary memory foam mattress. With its research-led cellular structure and a three-layered foam arrangement, Wakefit's mattresses are a strong symbol of the increasing amount of research and consumer insight that is driving the rapidly expanding sleep-care industry.

Various apps have been developed to assist in routine modification of sleep, which monitor the quality of sleep and awaken sleepers at the optimal point in their sleep cycles. Even sleepwear, earlier considered to be the only place where those faded pyjamas or old t-shirts could be accommodated, has now turned into an active sleep aid as apparel manufacturers integrate wearable technology into their designs to ensure blissful slumber.

This year's Nobel Prize in Medicine was given to three researchers who dedicated their studies to circadian rhythms, and the primary of these is the sleep-wake cycle. Additionally, in the wake of recent reports of gruesome accidents happening as a result of lack of sleep, there has been a renewed focus on providing plentiful and undisturbed sleep to people all over the world.

People need to be aware and responsible regarding their sleep, and realise that along with being dutiful towards their 'work hours', they also need to ensure quality rest for their bodies to function optimally, which can only be achieved through restful sleep.

(The writer is co-Founder and CEO, Wakefit.co)