COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF SLEEP DISORDERS ON HEALTH AND THE IMPACT OF DISEASES ON SLEEP

Dr. Shankar Prasad Bhattacharya*

Sleep and health share a complex, bidirectional relationship. Sleep disorders significantly influence physical, mental, and social well-being, while acute and chronic diseases profoundly affect sleep quality, duration, and architecture. This comparative study examines (a) the impact of sleep disorders on overall health and (b) the impact of diseases on sleep patterns, with special reference to the Indian public health context. Evidence indicates that sleep disorders contribute to cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, mental health disorders, impaired immunity, and reduced quality of life. Conversely, medical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory disorders, neurological illnesses, psychiatric conditions, and chronic pain disrupt normal sleep through physiological, psychological, and pharmacological mechanisms. In India, rapid urbanization, lifestyle changes, and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases have amplified the importance of sleep health. Understanding this reciprocal relationship is essential for early diagnosis, integrated management, and improved population health outcomes.