What’s Special about Philips Sleep Labs?
By Ikyatha Yerasala
With sleep disorders on the rise, Philips Sleep Labs is a one-of-a-kind service that offers sleep diagnosis, therapy and more, writes Ikyatha Yerasala
The power of a good night’s sleep is often underestimated. Deep, refreshing and normal sleep cycles are absolutely essential for good health. A recent Philips global survey revealed that more than 100 million people suffer from sleep apnea globally and more than 80 percent of these people remain undiagnosed while 30 percent find it difficult to initiate and maintain sleep. With bad sleep habits and lack of good sleep leading to conditions like cardiovascular disease and even strokes, it goes without saying that good sleep is of utmost importance to any being. To deal with the large number of people with sleep disorders and cater to their snooze woes, Philips has launched sleep labs that offers diagnosis, therapy and more. Talking about how the idea of Philips sleep lab was born, Harish R, Head of Sleep & Respiratory Care, Philips India says, “Philips acquired Respironics in 2008 with the vision of expanding solutions in Sleep and Respiratory care which includes Sleep Diagnosis, therapy, patient interface, oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation. We wanted to commit to providing the means to lead a healthy lifestyle and improve quality of life. Continuing on this journey, we also train staff and assist hospitals in setting up sleep labs across the country. Till date, Philips has trained over 400 sleep technicians and guided the launch of 500 sleep labs in India.”
What are the facilities that they offer to those with sleep disorders? “We provide end-to-end solutions in terms of sleep diagnosis, therapy and patient interfaces for patients with Sleep Apnea. If the patient is diagnosed with OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea), then the doctor recommends certain sleep therapy solutions. Philips Dream Series sleep therapy portfolio connects the provider and the patient at the most important points in the health continuum, from diagnosis to compliance and ongoing use and resupply. We’ve introduced a new, fully integrated, patient-centric sleep therapy solution featuring a connected positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy device, complementary mask line, and engagement tools to improve care for obstructive sleep apnea patients. The Dream Family integrated solution includes the DreamStation PAP device and DreamWear mask. Going a step further, we are also offering financial solutions to the end consumers in the form of zero cost EMI on selected range of products,” answers Harish.
A huge number of Indians do not follow good sleep hygiene and millennials aged between 18 and 24 feel guilty about not maintaining good sleep habits. In order to spread awareness about sleep disorders in India, Philips has been leading efforts to create awareness on importance of Sleep and on Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the country. “We have activations/ campaigns both online and on-field to reach people across the country. On-field, we facilitate regular sleep awareness events such as Sleep Camps where we establish platforms for patients to consult with sleep practitioners and get themselves screened for sleep apnea. We have also established “Philips Sleep Centre of Excellence” under the aegis of which we run several trainings to keep clinicians updated on sleep diagnosis and therapy and latest technologies available. As for online campaigns, in 2017, we roped in celebrity couple Mr. Ram Kapoor and Gautami Kapoor (#snorenomore) to help spread awareness on sleep apnea. The campaign generated a lot of conversations and also won awards for Marketing excellence in the healthcare and hospital sector,” reveals Harish. In 2018, the company did another campaign titled, ‘Sleepy Uncle campaign (sleepy uncle & #dontsleeponit) which won the award for Global digital Marketing for Best Social Media Marketing Campaign for spreading awareness on Sleep Apnea at the World Digital Marketing Congress. In addition to these campaigns, they engage in lot of conversations around World Sleep Day i.e. 15th March on social and print media.
When it comes to major sleep disorders, OSA is one such that is widely prevalent. According to INOSA, Community-based epidemiological studies from India have shown that the prevalence of OSAS is 2.4% to 5 % in males and 1 to 2% in females. There is no considerable variation in the prevalence of OSAS compared to rest of the world where it is 4% in males and 2% in females. OSA can lead to several health issues like insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and coronary artery disease. “OSA is characterized by repetitive pauses (complete or partial) in breathing during sleep between 10 to 20 seconds and can occur several times at night. As a result, the oxygen supply in the blood and subsequently to the brain, declines. This can lead to a disruption of normal bodily functions and pave the way for serious and life-threatening conditions. If left untreated, OSA can result in an increased risk of high BP, stroke, impotence, fatigue- related vehicle and work accidents and a decreased quality of life. Untreated Sleep Apnea can impact not only health but also overall quality of life, relationships and productivity at work. It is important to visit a sleep specialist if an individual is suffering from aforesaid symptoms. A Sleep Specialist may schedule a Sleep Study, generally conducted either in the hospital or at the comfort of one’s house. It is an overnight test that takes 6-7 hours recording vital parameters, breathing efforts and sleep patterns. Based on the test and comorbidities, the severity and appropriate treatment is determined by the sleep specialist,” reveals Harish.
So, what more has Philips planned in the sleep disorder area? “We are now moving in to the space of Connected Care, wherein user can download an App (DreamMapper for DreamStation Sleep therapy devices) available on Play store and IOS, which would help him monitor & evaluate his sleep therapy and can learn more about usage and maintenance of devices. We’re also coming up with a solution for care teams to enhance interoperability to see real-time progress and empowering them to make decisions of a patient using our DreamStation therapy device. Our comprehensive portfolio of advanced mask designs, full-face, minimal-contact, pillows and paediatric masks reflect our commitment to innovation. Through these, patients can get the rest they deserve. For example, DreamWear is a revolutionary mask designed to make it a perfect fit. From the Top-of-the-head tubing, interchangeable cushions and exceptional comfort, it is designed to keep patients engaged in their therapy and deliver an extraordinary experience,” says Harish.
With sleep being one of the major pillars of health, it’s important that one takes care of their sleep to maintain optimal health and Philips is doing commendable work to ensure that you don’t lose, thanks to a bad snooze.
