by Carly Cotton
On Wednesday, 27th November 2024, Dr Sriram Iyer, Senior Consultant Respiratory & Sleep Physician, at McCollum Consultants appeared on BBC Breakfast to share his expertise following the latest research from UK Biobank. The study revealed that individuals with irregular sleep patterns are 26% more likely to develop serious health conditions such as stroke, heart disease, and heart failure.
Dr Sriram Iyer shared valuable insights on the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep routine. He emphasised that while the commonly recommended 8 hours of sleep may work for some, is it essential to recognise that sleep needs vary from person- to-person. He explained that some individuals may function perfectly well on as little as 5 hours, while others may require up to 10 hours of sleep. They key, he noted, is to establish a sleep scheduled that works for you, and stick to it. During the discussion, Dr Iyer advised viewers not to stress about achieving a specific number of hours but instead to focus on consistency.
“The important thing we tell people is no matter what happens wake up at the same time, even if you sleep late,” Dr Iyer added: “Your body has a biological clock that will catch up and if you are sleep deprived one night, you will catch up the following night.”
About Dr Sriram Iyer
Dr Iyer is a senior consultant in respiratory and sleep medicine at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He has a leading role within the department in sleep and non-invasive ventilation. In addition, he is a senior lung cancer clinician and leads the Cancer Intervention Service in Sheffield.
His current job plan includes a heavy general respiratory caseload, specialised sleep and ventilation clinic, and a dedicated cancer intervention session. Dr Iyer has led on several important initiatives within the trust, including COVID-related service delivery, workforce development, and junior doctor training.