India, Aug. 10 -- India appears to be dealing with a sleep paradox: the more we invest in getting better rest, the harder a good night's sleep seems to become. Beyond mattresses and bedding, the growing sleep economy now includes noise-cancelling earplugs, white-noise machines, weighted blankets, sleep-tracking wearables, AI-powered apps and mattresses fitted with cooling technology. But are any of these actually helping us sleep better? Dr Manvir Bhatia, senior neurologist and sleep specialist, calls the situation ironic. "There are devices, candles, special mattresses, sleep apnea products and more, but an increasing number of people are coming to us with complaints of lack of sleep. They are losing sleep over sleep," she says. External factors are making matters worse. A recent Climate Central report notes that higher night-time temperatures are causing people in some Indian cities to lose between 66 and 93 hours of sleep annually. Research published in Scientific Reports has also pointed to how work stress can affect the sleep patterns of middle-aged workers, including those with no history of sleep disorders. They are also seeing concerns around orthosomnia, or an excessive preoccupation with achieving "perfect" sleep, often fuelled by data from sleep trackers and wearables. Sleep apnea, in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, meanwhile requires medical attention rather than a consumer quick fix. When sleep is being disrupted by urban noise, humidity, work stress or an underlying disorder, even a sophisticated mattress or smart ring can only do so much. "An attractive and supportive mattress as well as a sophisticated and well-informed wearable can help you sleep better and track what kind of sleep you are getting. Still, these gadgets have their limitations since they cannot be a solution to significant sleep disturbances caused by, for example, the chronic and prolonged effect of stress, the presence of excessive noise, sleep disorders, and neglect of health care," says Dr Harish Chafle, senior consultant - chest physician, bronchoscopist, intensivist and sleep disorders specialist, Gleneagles Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai. He adds, "The sleep industry frequently advertises products with promises of instant solutions, while the human body needs steady habits and a healthy lifestyle to sleep well and deeply."...