59 percent of Indians sleep less than six hours per night, highlighting widespread sleep deprivation.
Insomnia symptoms affect nearly one quarter of the population in India, making it one of the most common sleep disorders.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects millions globally, with symptoms such as loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Persistent sleep problems such as insomnia, loud snoring, or daytime fatigue may require evaluation by a sleep specialist.
World Sleep Day 2026 raises awareness about sleep disorders and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
Sleep health is receiving increasing attention as a public health concern worldwide. In India, surveys suggest that a large proportion of adults do not obtain adequate sleep. A national survey conducted in 2025 reported that 59 percent of Indians sleep less than six hours per night, a duration below the recommended amount for adults.¹
Sleep is “grossly misunderstood, largely undervalued and as a result ignored,” which has contributed to inadequate sleep becoming a growing public health concern in modern lifestyles, noted sleep physician Dr. Abhinav Singh, MD, MPH, during an interview with MedBound Times.
World Sleep Day is observed each year on the Friday before the March equinox to highlight the importance of healthy sleep and to raise awareness about sleep disorders. In 2026, the observance falls on March 13. The theme for this year's World Sleep Day is Sleep Well, Live Better. The event is organized by the World Sleep Society and involves healthcare professionals, researchers, and public health organizations across many countries.²
Sleep is a fundamental biological process that supports physical health, cognitive function, and emotional regulation. Adequate sleep is necessary for maintaining metabolic balance, cardiovascular health, and immune function. Dr. Abhinav Singh has also explained that sleep should not be viewed as a passive state but as an active biological process that supports several essential functions required for overall health and survival.
Consensus recommendations from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society state that adults should generally obtain at least seven hours of sleep per night to maintain optimal health.³
However, insufficient sleep has increasingly been recognized as a public health concern. These findings have contributed to growing attention toward sleep health and the early recognition of sleep disorders.
Sleep disorders include a range of conditions that affect sleep quality, duration, and timing. Common disorders include insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, parasomnias, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.
Among these conditions, insomnia is one of the most frequently reported sleep problems. Epidemiological studies indicate that approximately one quarter of the Indian population experiences insomnia symptoms, although prevalence estimates vary depending on the population studied and diagnostic criteria used.⁴ Globally, insomnia symptoms are estimated to affect between 10 percent and 30 percent of adults, highlighting the widespread nature of sleep disturbances.⁵
Sleep disorders can have significant health consequences if left untreated. Research has linked chronic sleep deprivation and untreated sleep disorders with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, metabolic disorders, depression, and reduced cognitive performance. Insomnia has also been associated with a higher risk of developing mood disorders, including depression.
Sleep deprivation may also affect safety and daily functioning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowsy driving is involved in an estimated 13 percent of motor vehicle crashes.⁶
Sleep medicine has developed gradually as a clinical discipline in India over the past few decades. In the early years, sleep related breathing disorders were often managed primarily by pulmonologists. Over time, the field has expanded to include specialists from neurology, psychiatry, otolaryngology, and other disciplines.
Today, sleep medicine in India is increasingly practiced through multidisciplinary collaboration. Physicians trained in different specialties contribute to the diagnosis and management of sleep disorders, reflecting the complex interactions between neurological, respiratory, and psychological factors involved in sleep regulation.
With increasing awareness of sleep disorders, hospitals and tertiary care centres in India have begun establishing specialized sleep laboratories and sleep clinics. These facilities allow clinicians to conduct detailed assessments of sleep problems and identify underlying disorders.
One of the most commonly used diagnostic tools in sleep medicine is polysomnography, often referred to as a sleep study. Polysomnography records several physiological parameters during sleep, including brain activity, breathing patterns, oxygen levels, heart rate, and limb movements. These measurements help clinicians diagnose conditions such as sleep apnea, parasomnias, and other sleep disorders.⁷
Estimates suggest that around 500 sleep laboratories currently operate in India, although access to these facilities varies widely between regions. Experts note that the number of diagnostic centres remains limited relative to the size of the population, particularly outside major urban areas.⁸
Among the various sleep disorders evaluated in sleep laboratories, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions. OSA occurs when the upper airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, leading to temporary interruptions in breathing. These interruptions can reduce oxygen levels and disrupt normal sleep patterns.
Common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, often referred to as sleep apnea symptoms, may include:
Loud snoring
Episodes of breathing pauses during sleep
Morning headaches
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Studies conducted in Indian populations suggest that the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea ranges between approximately 3.7 percent and 21 percent in adults, depending on the population studied and diagnostic methods used.⁹ Globally, research estimates that approximately 936 million adults may have obstructive sleep apnea, indicating that the condition represents a major global health burden.¹⁰
Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea include obesity, increasing age, male sex, and certain craniofacial structural features.¹¹ Untreated OSA has been associated with increased risks of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders.
Occasional sleep disturbances are common and may occur during periods of stress or illness. However, persistent sleep problems may indicate an underlying sleep disorder that requires medical evaluation.
Sleep physician Dr. Abhinav Singh has emphasized that individuals should seek medical evaluation when sleep problems persist or begin to interfere with daytime functioning. He noted that people often normalize poor sleep for extended periods before seeking professional help.
Persistent symptoms may indicate an underlying sleep disorder.
Common warning signs of sleep disorders include the following:
Persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep for several weeks
Loud snoring accompanied by choking or breathing pauses during sleep
Excessive daytime sleepiness that interferes with work or daily activities
Frequent awakenings or non refreshing sleep
Abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking or sudden movements
Sleep disturbances associated with neurological, respiratory, or psychiatric conditions
Primary care physicians often refer patients with suspected sleep disorders to specialists trained in sleep medicine. Diagnostic evaluation may involve clinical assessment, sleep studies, and review of medical history.
Despite increasing recognition of sleep disorders, awareness about sleep health remains limited in many communities. Many individuals attribute persistent fatigue or poor sleep to lifestyle factors and may not seek medical advice.
According to Dr. Singh, the importance of sleep has only been widely recognized in recent decades as research has revealed the growing number of sleep related disorders and their impact on overall health.
Public health initiatives such as World Sleep Day aim to improve awareness about sleep hygiene, encourage early recognition of sleep disorders, and promote access to appropriate medical care.
Sleep plays an essential role in maintaining physical and mental health. As research continues to highlight the health consequences of sleep deprivation and untreated sleep disorders, awareness of sleep medicine has grown in India and globally.
World Sleep Day 2026 provides an opportunity to emphasize the importance of recognizing persistent sleep problems and seeking medical evaluation when symptoms occur. As awareness of sleep disorders continues to grow, early recognition of symptoms and timely consultation with sleep specialists may help reduce the health burden associated with untreated sleep problems.
References
LocalCircles. “How India Sleeps 2025 Survey.” https://www.localcircles.com/a/press/page/sleep-disruptions-survey
World Sleep Society. “World Sleep Day.” https://worldsleepsociety.org/world-sleep-day/
Watson, Nathaniel F., et al. “Recommended Amount of Sleep for a Healthy Adult.” Sleep 38, no. 6 (2015). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26900189/
Bhaskar, S., et al. “Prevalence of Chronic Insomnia in Adult Patients in India.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5353813/
Ohayon, Maurice M. “Epidemiology of Insomnia.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21845085/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Drowsy Driving.” https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/features/drowsy-driving.html
CARE Hospitals. “Polysomnography (Sleep Study).” https://www.carehospitals.com/treatment/sleep-study-analysis
Economic Times Health. “There Are Around 500 Sleep Labs in India Today but We Need Many More.” https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/there-are-around-500-sleep-labs-in-india-today-but-we-need-many-more-dr-deepak-shrivastava/53956288
Suri, T. M., et al. “Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Indian Population.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079223000850
Benjafield, Adam V., et al. “Estimation of the Global Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.” The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31300334/
Veasey, S. C., and J. Rosen. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults.” New England Journal of Medicine 380 (2019). https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp1816152
