Each year, Omdia conducts a worldwide end-user survey to gain a perspective on healthcare information technology (IT). In October 2021, Omdia interviewed 278 respondents from the healthcare industry, including general hospitals, long-term care facilities, and standalone clinics, asking questions about their healthcare IT projects, including investments priorities, challenges, and drivers for digital transformation.

The survey findings reflect the digital transformation in healthcare facilities around the world. Omdia summarises some key observations as below.

Observation 1: Digital transformation in healthcare is accelerated.

• The proportion of global healthcare facilities to significantly increase their healthcare IT budget (6 per cent or more) has been growing over the years.
• Larger healthcare establishments tend to invest more (relative to size) in digital transformation. This is mainly because larger facilities have more health data, and therefore more potential efficiency savings from digital transformation.

Observation 2: Global healthcare facilities are still at an early stage of digital transformation.

• 45 per cent of the healthcare IT budget in 2020 was spent on electronic data capture. Electronic data capture will remain a major part of spending in the next 18 months.
• The applications of telehealth/telemedicine and AI are still very limited. This is largely due to the unmatured state of health data digitalisation and interoperability.

Observation 3: The trends of AI and telehealth are accelerated.

• 70 per cent of respondents say that the priority of AI and telehealth increased under the impact of the pandemic. They will increase their spending accordingly.
• Telemedicine has been expanding prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the survey, 34 per cent of healthcare facilities will increase telemedicine adoption to more than 50 per cent of their total practice by 2023.

Observation 4: Skill gap and security concerns continue to be key challenges in achieving digital transformation.

• 43 per cent of respondents report skill gap and security concerns as the top two barriers in achieving digital transformation.
• Security is not only about how patient data is handled and used but also about whether the digital infrastructure is robust enough to protect against cyberattacks.
• New technologies inevitably lead to new types of activities for healthcare, which requires new skills.

Conclusion

Digital transformation is a key theme for global healthcare systems. Digital transformation in healthcare is an evolving process, involving various stages.

The findings of Omdia 2021 Healthcare IT Survey unveil the early stages of digital transformation among healthcare facilities around the world. The findings regarding the challenges of digital transformation remain consistent with the Omdia 2020 Healthcare IT survey. However, the survey findings suggest the healthcare facilities of the world are accelerating their digital transformation in spite of these challenges.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death and morbidity across the world. The bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes tuberculosis, which is disseminated by aerosol droplets. Mtb infection causes an immune response in around one out of every four persons globally, which can be latent or develop into active disease manifestations. Patients with tuberculosis who have no active signs or symptoms of the disease were initially diagnosed as having latent tuberculosis, which has now been modified to tuberculosis infection. Invest to End TB - Save Lives is the theme of World TB Day 2022. It emphasises the critical need to increase resources to scale up the battle against tuberculosis and meet global leaders' promises to eradicate the disease. This is especially important given the many crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, that have jeopardised progress toward TB eradication.

Patients with tuberculosis have a 5–10 per cent chance of acquiring TB illness. This rises to a 16 per cent yearly risk of activation where TB infection transforms into TB disease in HIV patients across various levels of immunodeficiency. In 2019, an estimated 10 million new incident cases of active tuberculosis illness were reported worldwide.

Related: What does the future of the TB vaccine look like?

Two-thirds of all cases occur in a number of countries, a majority of which have overburdened health systems with little resources. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognised the tremendous global burden of illness when it established the End TB project in 2016. Through innovative research and education, they aim to minimise the disease's incidence, morbidity, and mortality by improving diagnostic and treatment procedures, as well as establishing prevention initiatives. By 2035, the objective is to reduce tuberculosis mortality by 95 per cent and the global incidence of tuberculosis by 90 per cent. It is projected that 60 million lives have been saved globally in the 21st century as a result of the continuous efforts.

Given the present incidence of tuberculosis infection and the lifelong risk of advancing to active illness, it is critical to safeguard future generations from this burden by completely ceasing transmission. Scientists have identified several possible candidates for vaccination based on a better knowledge of the cellular mechanisms involved in Mtb susceptibility and development. The cellular immune response is crucial to this, with an emphasis on increasing T-helper cell (TH1) responses while decreasing TH2 and regulatory T-cell responses. Mtb appears to have recognised the need to adapt to this hypo-inflammatory phenotype as well, with more recent strains exhibiting shorter latency and higher virulence than previously documented.

Related: How Qure.ai is fighting COVID-19

The only globally authorised TB vaccine is bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), which successfully reduces the risk of severe paediatric TB illness with an 85 per cent decrease in TB meningitis and miliary TB in individuals that are 10 years of age.

Moving forward, it is anticipated that each patient will have a personalised approach to TB therapy due to a mix of new medications, revised durations, and more effective assessment of response to treatment. Healthcare providers will be able to construct a treatment combination and duration with more precision for each patient. Research such as PredictTB attempts to identify biomarkers and radiographic appearances that indicate response and chance of recurrence. In early-stage clinical trials, similar technologies may potentially aid in the development of more effective medications. Furthermore, any new medicine or technology created must be inexpensive and accessible to all institutions, particularly hospitals in low-resource settings, where most of the worldwide TB burden persists.

The future of tuberculosis therapy seems promising. There is now a global effort being made to discover innovative technology and treatments for tuberculosis patients. By combining these advances, there is possibility to base each patient’s treatment on their unique protein biosignatures. This is in conjunction with the genomic expression of mutations in the Mtb strain that they have been infected with.

To reach the objective of worldwide TB eradication, collaboration through sharing expertise on a global scale can help guarantee that each patient receives the necessary therapy and support to overcome their TB diagnosis with reduced morbidity.

IBM’s ‘Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021’ found that for the 11th year in a row, the healthcare sector had the highest average cost of a breach compared to other industries. The average cost of a healthcare breach was a startling US$9.23 million in 2021. The financial sector was the next costliest, but at US$5.72 million it stands at 38 per cent less than healthcare. The need for healthcare organisations to secure their data is clear, but the emergence of telehealth presents challenges.

The pandemic caused a significant increase in the use of telehealth, and it remains a popular option for many people. In the UAE, a recent YouGov poll found that over half of people would now consider using telehealth, which confirms that its popularity is growing. This makes sense given that cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death and disability in the UAE and is an area where telehealth can provide particularly valuable support for patients.

Related: Pivoting to telehealth – Opportunities and challenges

While telemedicine offers tremendous benefits to both patients and providers, it also creates many overlooked cybersecurity and privacy concerns. Therefore, it is crucial to have a good understanding of the risks.

Why is telehealth a potential cybersecurity threat?

Related: Connected telehealth - personalised patient care from anywhere

Healthcare has always been one of the main targets for attackers for multiple reasons. Healthcare providers manage incredibly sensitive patient data that is worth a lot of money on the dark web. A 2019 Trustwave report found that a healthcare data record may be valued at up to US$250 per record on the black market, compared to US$5.40 for the next highest value record (a payment card). Unfortunately, there is a lot of money to be made from stealing health-related data which is what fuels this activity.

Also, attackers know very well that many health organisations will pay huge amounts of money because they simply cannot afford any network downtime, as it could result in life and death consequences.

Besides, the pandemic has only made healthcare an even bigger target. As many healthcare organisations are still overwhelmed by the surge in patient numbers, IT and cybersecurity are, of course, lower down the priority list compared to patient care. Ruthless hackers know this and are ready to jump in when their victims are most vulnerable.

Telemedicine is a riskier form of care from a security perspective compared to more traditional methods, mainly because it is still relatively new. And while organisations and healthcare providers are trying to quickly formulate best practices, there is a steep learning curve ahead of them. As this process progresses, attackers may see loopholes that can exploit potential weaknesses.

The practical difficulties of decentralised security

The biggest problem with telemedicine is that it decentralises the hospital network. As new devices and applications are used in hospital headquarters, in the cloud, and now at home, attackers have more potential entry points.

On top of this, patients use their own devices to access hospital resources and communicate with healthcare professionals. This equipment is often unsafe, and hospitals lack the visibility and control needed to effectively manage and secure such equipment.

Healthcare providers

Healthcare providers, including health IT staff, but also CEOs and boards, play a crucial role to combat cyber-attacks. Part of the solution also comes down to basics, such as establishing visibility, ensuring good cyber hygiene, prioritising asset management, and having solid remediation plans for when issues arise.

Beyond that, clinicians need to be part of the cybersecurity conversation as well. Maintaining a secure remote healthcare environment is not just the responsibility of health IT teams, frontline staff also need to ensure they practice safe security procedures.

Medical device manufacturers

Medical Internet of Things devices are a huge part of telehealth. The persistent problem with IoT, however, is that devices are often rushed to the market, so eager vendors can make a money grab, which has consequences.

When an attacker hacks one Internet of Medical Things device, they can move laterally throughout a network, potentially gaining access to highly sensitive medical information. That is why it is crucial that healthcare providers vet the medical devices they purchase, and health IT teams keep monitoring for any suspicious movements.

Going forward, there should be greater requirements and regulations mandating that medical device manufacturers design their products with cybersecurity in mind. Security should be built into the development process. In addition, manufacturers of these devices must be aware of potential supply chain vulnerabilities and take steps to mitigate the risks.

Patients

There are small but important things patients can do to make telemedicine safer, such as keeping their devices up to date, using multi-factor authentication, and learning about cybersecurity hygiene. But the question is how can we encourage patients to do this and take responsibility? Like clinicians, patients are at the forefront and need to find a way to engage in these conversations.

Telehealth is here to stay, but it must be secure

The pandemic highlights the prospects for telemedicine and has transformed healthcare. Given the enormous benefits, telemedicine is expected to remain a permanent feature of the healthcare system in the future. However, while this is still in its infancy, it is important to establish and programme best practices now to help protect hospitals and patients in the future.

Over the last two decades, advanced technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality, telemedicine, and robotics have emerged and gained prominence in medical learning and practice, according to an article published in The Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Through increased precision and improved communication between plastic surgeons and patients, these advancements can improve patient outcomes. In an interview, Dr Jamil Al Jamali, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa and Dr David Alessi, Founder and Medical Director of the Alessi Institute for Facial Plastic Surgery and Medical Director for Beverly Hills Wellness and Aesthetics in Dubai, shared insights on how technology is guiding innovations under the knife. 

Information technology has become an important element of medical procedures, including the plastic surgery industry, according to Dr Jamali. He shares an example of the digitisation of manufacturing physical operation instruments to various information systems such as surgical information systems, telemedicine, or systems for scheduling operation teams. “This applies to surgical activities but also to the associated patient data-processing and accounting, which have been important issues for the last 20 years at least. With regards to plastic surgery, technology has allowed doctors and patients to create a visual idea of what the outcome of a surgery will be while digital advancements have in themselves, helped to advance the technologies and equipment used in both pre- and post-surgical procedures as well as obviously during the procedures themselves,” he says. 

Shaped by technology 

Related: Robotics in spine surgery can elevate accuracy

Dr David Alessi

Related: Transforming kidney care with Artificial Intelligence

Moreover, Dr Alessi comments on how the morphing technology can be key in not only helping patients preview the outcome of their surgeries, but also understand why the plastic surgeon is making certain recommendations. “Through the morphing feature, surgeons can make revisions even during a telemedicine consultation. There are common instances in which patients complain about their nose being too big, however, usually in such cases the nose appears larger due to their chin being small. Therefore, in a preview an augmentation can be made on the chin, creating facial harmony, which the patient is satisfied with. The goal is to ensure patients view the effects of any facial changes before proceeding with the surgery.” 

Facial morphing technologies have been integrated in popular and mainstream apps, Dr Jamali explains that they play a key role in encouraging people to embark on various levels of plastic surgery. 

“Instagram filters create the illusion of perfect skin or petite noses, which pushes them to explore botox or rhinoplasty. While apps that create the illusion of slimmer thighs or larger breasts encourages them to explore liposuction or breast augmentation. These augmented reality apps are making people more open to considering and accepting various levels of plastic surgery.” 

However, Dr Allesi cautions that one of the biggest challenges with plastic surgery is identifying body dysmorphic syndrome. “The way that media has had an influence on what our definition of beauty is quite dramatic, and in the age of social media many young patients bring edited images as references. A classic example is a patient who has a different facial profiling to a celebrity reference. As plastic surgeons, we give options closer to what is possible. Our focus is to look at the patient and work on realistic enhancements. There is an old saying in plastic surgery that a good plastic surgeon knows when to operate, and a great plastic surgeon knows when not to operate. Most plastic surgeons are very well trained in terms of identifying patients who are not good candidates for plastic surgery or may require psychological support before proceeding.” 

AI guiding personalised medicine 

AI in healthcare delivery has become vital due to its rapid progression, it also lends to plastic surgery in a variety of settings. AI’s ability to predict prognoses and diagnoses can support plastic surgeons in decision-making. “AI is useful in identifying risks such as scarring and intensive intervention for patients suffering from burns. Laser is essentially a form of AI, once you enter the skin type of the patient and area to be treated and the laser will suggest the best setting to be used. AI can also be used to identify patients who have body dysmorphic syndrome ahead of time,” says Dr Alessi. 

“As far back as the early 2000s, researchers developed a machine learning (ML) model that assesses burn depth and healing time based on data from a portable reflective spectrophotometer with some 86 per cent accuracy. The model could further tell which burns would heal before 14 days with an accuracy of 96 per cent and those healing later with an accuracy of 75 per cent. In practice, such insights could help guide physicians regarding which patients need closer follow-ups; as well as which ones can be discharged earlier,” adds Dr Jamali. 

AR in the operating room 

Augmented reality (AR) and face recognition technology are expanding into healthcare, as plastic surgery develops rapidly. The global aesthetic surgery market is also expanding. Furthermore, Dr Alessi details that augmented reality can support the surgery plan. “If a patient needs to have their cheekbones done, the surgeon can take precise measurements using augmented reality, and bring them to the operating room. Another technological advancement is for patients who need to have significant plastic surgery reconstruction. Candidates for this are patients who have had serious accidents, which altered their face. While in surgery digital tracking can be used simultaneously to ensure measurements are precise in complex reconstruction.” 

To add, Dr Jamali tells us about ILLUSIO, an augmented reality app with a real-time simulation feature, that helps plastic surgery patients to choose the breast implants of the right shape and size. “Women are invited to wear a special bra compatible with this AR technology that helps the app create a highly-realistic impression of how their new body will look like after the surgery. All the changes can be seen in real time on the screen of an iPad.”  

Enhanced future 

Dr Alessi concludes that although AI in medicine has advanced, there is still a long way to go “Nonetheless, there have been many progressions, the use of stem cells in plastic surgery was unheard before. Surgeons now can also look at a CAT scan while in surgery to have real time identification for landmarks and be able to rebuild faces, this was not around 30 years ago. The use of telemedicine is more prevalent now as well, which has enabled greater accessibility.” 

Approximately one in three people who suffer from Major Depressive Disorders do not respond to treatment and are considered to have Treatment-Resistant Depression or TRD. In the GCC, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE would need to spend between 5 per cent and a staggering 20 per cent of their annual healthcare budgets to combat this disease.

Risk factors of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
MDD is a devastating psychiatric disease, causing patients to suffer a 20-fold higher risk of suicide than others. Some factors that contribute to the risk of developing the disease are chronic medical conditions, age, family history, major life changes and severe trauma or chronic stress.   

Need to integrate mental health solutions in healthcare systems
Depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents and adults. From dementia to schizophrenia, almost one billion people worldwide suffer from a mental disorder. Lost productivity because of two of the most common mental disorders, anxiety, and depression costs the global economy US$1 trillion each year. Approximately one in three people who suffer from MDD do not respond to treatment and are considered to have Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).

Besides these concerns, TRD also raises a heavy economic burden in terms of healthcare resource consumption and indirect costs to the system from loss of productivity. In the GCC, TRD costs for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE were estimated at SAR 14,997 million, KWD 304 million and Dh2,461 million year-on-year, respectively.

UAE’s focused efforts on mental health
The UAE classifies mental health as a vital component of a balanced care system and sufficient attention is being given to mental and behavioural disorders in the national-level planning. The country has adopted integrated approaches and strategies for these disorders by recognising their comorbidity and consequences and moving the health system towards more effective and integrated management and prevention, in addition to care.

Related: Treating depression and anxiety in an age of technological advancement

Under the leadership of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, key stakeholders are in line to develop a strategy to reform the mental health system, with a common vision of providing the best possible integrated mental health services for the people of UAE while changing attitudes and tackling stigma towards mental illness.

Considering mental health, a national health priority, much progress has been achieved by the UAE however, there is still a long way to go. Decision makers, leaders, relatives, patients, professionals and civil societies are working collaboratively towards achieving the shared vision, where UAE citizens can experience good mental health and well-being, mainly supported by integrated mental health services^. All these reasons provide the right ecosystem for the healthcare sector to work in mental health.

MDD treatment programmes in the UAE
The UAE is committed to the mental health of its people, and in recent years, it has increased efforts through awareness programmes, counselling and psychological support, providing pathways to patients for long-term care. Leading government entities, including the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), Department of Health, UAE Ministry of Happiness, Dubai Health Authority and Abu Dhabi Authority have addressed mental health as a priority. Mental health is also one of the 15 strategic programmes under Dubai Health Strategy 2016–2021. The initiative is focused towards a healthier and happier community, which aims to eradicate the stigma associated with mental illness, as well as provide patient empowerment.

Related: The weight of men’s mental health

During the current pandemic, MOHAP in the UAE launched the Hayat (Life) programme for mental health support during COVID-19 and a dedicated telephone counselling hotline. The UAE’s National Programme for Happiness and Well-being has also been prioritised under the campaign #Dontworry. Other notable initiatives in the UAE include the launch of community mental health units and a free mental health support network in Abu Dhabi, under the theme “Darkness into Light UAE” to raise awareness about mental health issues. A new UAE draft law is also being discussed to protect rights of mental health patients and help them be integrated in society.

Bulent Ozturk is the Medical Affairs Director at Janssen GCC.

Bridging the gap with healthcare stakeholders
Janssen, the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, is committed to address the clinical and economic burden of MDD working side-by-side with healthcare stakeholders. Only by combining efforts as one, can the pharmaceutical industry, governments, healthcare providers, payers and patients come together to tackle the oncoming “silent tidal wave” of depression. We are working as a scientific partner in the region, informing policy, supporting R&D and demonstrating technical know-how in the area of mental health.

We believe that feedback from the real-world clinical experience is crucial for comparing and improving the use of drugs, vaccines, medical devices and diagnostics and we are committed to support the GCC in real-world experience. In the UAE, our digital medical hub has latest educational updates for psychiatrists. We are working closely with stakeholders, including the DOH, to pilot key projects in data mining specifically. We are also working towards a strategic partnership with MOHAP to provide innovative mental health services for patients and communities in the UAE.

Final notes
At Janssen, the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, our mission is to help to reduce the burden, disability and devastation caused by mental health disorders and transform individual lives. Since the launch of our first pioneering psychiatric therapy in 1958, Janssen has delivered more than 20 medications and innovations for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions. Two of these are psychiatric medicines are recognised by the WHO as essential medicines.

With a research and development strategy that is focused on developing innovations for large, clinically diverse populations and incorporating data science across all aspects of our business – from discovery to development and commercialisation – we always find new ways to identify and validate drug targets, conduct clinical trials efficiently, and even use digital health and devices to support patients by predicting relapse.

Overall, fewer than two per cent of babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection also test positive for the virus, but they are more likely to test positive when the women have severe COVID-19 or were diagnosed after childbirth.

Experts also discovered that vaginal births and breast feeding do not increase the likelihood of babies testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 when their mothers have the infection.

An international research team, led by the University of Birmingham’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health, published its findings today in BMJ after examining data from around the globe relating to more than 14,000 babies born to mothers with COVID-19.

Overall, 1.8 per cent of the 14,271 babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection tested positive for the virus using PCR tests.

Study lead Shakila Thangaratinam, Professor of Maternal and Perinatal Health at the University of Birmingham, commented: “Ours is the first study to use the World Health Organisation’s stringent methods to show that it is possible for the virus to be spread from the mother to baby while in the womb, during childbirth, and after delivery.  

“However, parents and healthcare professionals can be reassured that only a very small proportion of babies born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 test positive. This implies that the risks of infection to such babies are rare.

“Mothers should also be reassured about the low risk of viral transmission through vaginal birth, skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding – all of which should be encouraged.”

Professor Thangaratinam added that healthcare professionals and policy makers need to be aware of the expected burden of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in babies, and that they can be infected at any time during pregnancy and delivery - highlights the need for appropriate measures to reduce risk of viral transmission in the postnatal period.

The research team recommends that, since babies born to mothers with severe SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to test positive, they will need to be tested after birth and monitored closely. Vaccination in pregnancy should be further encouraged to prevent infection and severe disease in mothers.

The team will analyse new studies as further evidence becomes available and also explore the effects that SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and vaccination have on newborns.

With the pandemic serving as a catalyst, telemedicine and telehealth have seen significant adoption between patients and practitioners, and educators and medical students, respectively. However, the rise of remote consultations and extended exposure to screens on different telecommunication infrastructures is triggering sleep disorders among clinicians.

As Omnia Health observes World Sleep Day 2022 — themed 'Quality Sleep, Sound Mind, Happy World' — we speak to Dr Julio Gomez-Seco, Consultant Pulmonologist and Sleep Respiratory Disorders Specialist at Fakeeh University Hospital, to highlight the impact of blue light from electronic devices and ways to ensure restful sleep. Excerpts from the interview:

Based on your observation, what is the correlation between blue light and sleep disorders? What are the side effects caused by this?

Related: Can wearables help improve sleeping patterns?

The use of light-emitting electronic devices (also known as blue light) before bedtime may contribute to or exacerbate sleep problems. Exposure to blue-wavelength light from these devices may affect sleep by suppressing melatonin and causing neurophysiologic arousal.

Insomnia symptoms, including difficulty falling or staying asleep or frequently awakening, occur in as much as 33 per cent to 50 per cent of adults (Schutte-Rodin et al., 2008). Experts estimate almost 30 per cent of the UAE population experiences insomnia for a certain period in their life.

Related: Snorers who suffer from sleep apnoea at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes

The circadian system enables a consolidated nocturnal sleep phase, which coincides with ambient darkness and increased circulating levels of the pineal hormone, melatonin.

Environmental light can also delay the production of melatonin and affect the circadian rhythm with consequent insomnia or poor sleep quality. Light exposure, including blue light, can also decrease sleepiness, prolong sleep onset latency, and decrease REM and slow-wave sleep (Chang et al., 2015).

Would you say this phenomenon may be disrupting sleep in professionals because of increased remote consultations and practices and leading to burnout or sleep disorders? Please elaborate.

In 2011, a survey found that 90 per cent of Americans report using an electronic device in their bedroom within an hour of trying to fall asleep (Gradisar et Al. J Clin Sleep Med. 2013). Common sources of blue light include fluorescent lights, LED lights, smartphones, televisions, computer screens, tablets, and e-readers.

The most effective way to reduce exposure to blue light in the evening is to simply turn off the sources after it gets dark outside. Some studies suggest wearing amber-tinted blue-light-blocking lenses before bedtime, which may improve sleep in individuals with insomnia related to blue-light emissions (Shechter et Al., J Psychiatr Res. 2018).

What are some of the common sleep concerns in the UAE?

The most common sleep disorders in the UAE are obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and insomnia. Sleep apnoea is a serious condition in which a person's breathing is frequently interrupted during sleep. In the UAE, it has an estimated prevalence of approximately 23 per cent in males and 19.5 per cent in females. It can also affect a person’s ability to safely perform normal daily activities and poses long-term health problems.

Dr Julio Gomez-Seco has 17 years of experience in the field of pulmonology and specialises in treating a wide variety of respiratory conditions.

Tips to manage habits and prevent sleep disorders

Set a sleep schedule
Get your body accustomed to sleeping and waking at specific times and you will likely find falling asleep (and getting out of bed in the morning) a little easier. Most smartwatches and smartphones have specific settings that support such a schedule.

Reduce your screen time just before bed
All of us, to some extent, are guilty of looking at our phones in bed. Some of us for far too long and right before we shut our eyes to rest. It is recommended to stop using electronic devices for at least 60-90 minutes before bedtime. If your mind and body associate your bed with sleep, you will find it less difficult to drift off. On the other hand, if you spend your time in bed deliberately staying awake, you may pay for it later by being unable to sleep when you want to. Establish a regular pattern of relaxing behaviours, such as reading, for 10 minutes to an hour before bedtime.

Adopt an active lifestyle
Given the link to obesity, most sleep disorders can be avoided by simply having an active lifestyle. While everyone’s routine can vary, people who generally struggle to fall asleep should consider exercising three to four hours before bedtime. Adding exercise to your daily routine is also another way of ensuring you stick to a steady wind-down schedule, as your body falls into a rhythm.

Save tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow

While this may be the hardest to control, especially for a healthcare practitioner, it is crucial to resolve your worries or concerns before bedtime. Stress management is a big part of achieving quality sleep and many people turn to meditation to ease anxiety. Another strategy that could help is to jot down what is on your mind and then set it aside for tomorrow.