Importance of adequate sleep

As the years roll by, more residents of urban areas are becoming nocturnal. Around the 1980s and 1990s, the streets of Dhaka became empty by 09:00 pm. Now, there is traffic congestion on most busy areas of the city even at 01:00 am.

This trend is also spreading to rural areas where electricity has reached over the past few years. Beside watching television, most people browse internet on their smartphones far into the night.

An adult needs seven to eight hours of sleep daily. But most people get no more than five to six hours as they remain glued to television, computer and smartphone unnecessarily.

Chronic sleep loss can lead to a lot of health problems. A recent study has revealed that sleep plays a 'housekeeping role' in the human body as it removes toxins from the brain that builds up during waking hours. Sleep helps to reboot this system and refresh it. Everyone should form a healthy and regular sleeping habit so that they can function properly during the day and be more cheerful and productive.

Sumaiya Chowdhury,

Rampura, Dhaka