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SLEEP
MEDICINE

Sleep Hygiene:

Sleep Advice for Practicing Physicians

Interview with Ritwick Agrawal, MD, conducted by Soma Jyothula, MD, FCCP

S leep is the most conserved physiological activity exhibited by physicians. We discussed this important topic, particularly in times of

most members in the animal kingdom, and affirms the role it
increased recognition of burnout in physicians.

plays in health. As humans, we spend one third of our lives sleep-
ing. The quality and quantity of sleep has an impact on our physical Dr. Jyothula: Thank you for joining us and sharing your expertise with
and emotional wellbeing. During my medical education and subse- the physician members in our BCMS family. First thing, why is sleep
quent training, the uniform theme was sleep is wasted time. There was important for a practicing physician, both personally and professionally?
a pervasive disdain for the concept of rest and rejuvenation. As physi-
cians, we have only embraced the importance of sleep hygiene in the Dr. Agrawal: Sleep is not just important, it's essential, especially in the
past couple of decades due to some pioneering research done to study high-stress, high-reward field of clinical practice. In our profession,
effects of sleep deprivation on health and cognitive functions of physi- where the stakes are always high, having a mechanism for relaxation is
1
cians. Beyond the impact on individual physicians' health, sleep-related crucial. Sleep is a basic, natural way to relax and rejuvenate. Studies con-
impairment leads to cognitive impairment and medical errors. sistently show that good sleep is beneficial for both physical and mental
ACGME has set duty hour limitations on trainees as a common pro- well-being. After a long day of making critical decisions and navigating
gram requirement for accredited residency programs in the United complex situations, sleep is the body's way of resetting and maintaining
States, recognizing the importance of adequate sleep for trainee physi- optimal well-being. On a personal level, adequate sleep is vital for men-
cians and the deleterious effects of sleep impairment. Unfortunately, tal health, emotional resilience and physical well-being, helping to com-
unpredictable work hours are the norm for a practicing physician. In bat the high stress that comes with the medical profession.
addition, personal obligations, family responsibilities and various social
activities subtract further time. Dr. Jyothula: There has been a spurt in recognition of burnout in
I consulted with Dr. Ritwick Agrawal, triple boarded in Pulmonary, physicians. Do you think sleep impairment is the cause or effect?
Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Medicine. He is an educator and re-
searcher with a focus on the impact of sleep-related issues in practicing Dr. Agrawal: It's a bit of both. Sleep impairment can lead to burnout

16 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • March 2024