Sleep is a basic human need and it is essential for optimal health and well-being. However, lifestyle and environmental factors are increasingly causing sleep disturbances or sleep disorders. The negative effects of sleep deprivation include physical effects (e.g., sleepiness and fatigue), decline in cognitive function (e.g., diminishment of mental concentration and performance, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries), and mental health complications (e.g., increasing feelings of irritability, anxiety, sadness, and anger, and difficulty to manage stress). Sleep deprivation also increases the risk of chronic diseases. Pharmacists can play a role in managing and supporting people in dealing with sleep disorders through pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.
