Iran 2018: Khosro Sadeghniiat Haghighi |

Delegate: Dr. Khosro Sadeghniiat Haghighi

Affiliation: Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Bio: Dr. Khosro Sadeghniiat Haghighi is an occupational medicine and sleep medicine specialist completed an educational course regarding sleep medicine in University of Toronto. He promoted sleep medicine in Iran in collaboration with Iranian Sleep Medicine Society. He established first sleep clinics (Baharloo Sleep clinic and Imam Sleep Lab) and Occupational Sleep Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He is also head of Imam Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran, and Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Sleep Sciences.

Activity: In world sleep day 2018, we cooperated with Iranian Sleep Medicine Society in holding an educational conference about circadian rhythm disorders, conducted several TV interviews targeting public audience, held a teaching session about healthy sleep for high school students, and shared related information in social media and with our staff. Occupational Sleep Research Center in cooperation with Iranian sleep Medicine Society and International Center for Neurological Research (ICNR) held an informative conference about circadian rhythm disorders and normal sleep-wake cycle to physicians, medical students, etc. at Imam Hospital complex, Tehran, Iran. In this conference Dr. Khosro Sadeghniiat director of Iranian sleep Medicine Society, Dr. Mirfarhad Ghalebandi, Dr. Mohammad Hossein Harirchian, Dr. Shabnam Jalilolghadr, Dr. Zahra Banafsheh Ale Mohammad, Dr. Amin Amali, directory board members of Iranian sleep Medicine Society, and other sleep medicine specialists talked about different types of circadian rhythm disorders among adults and children.

An interview in national Iranian TV channel (https://www.irinn.ir/fa, news section) was conducted for more distribution of the information and sleep health awareness. Dr. Khosro Sadeghniiat, talked about snoring and sleep related problems. TV reporters interviewed people and asked their beliefs regarding sleep and associated problems during the program: e.g.: What people do when their family members snore, complications of snoring, snoring with symptoms such as hypertension witnessed apnea, and fatigue.

The following information was shared with TV audience:
• Availability of various treatments for snoring and sleep apnea in Iran
• Role of life style changes such as weight loss and quit-smoking in an effective treatment
• Having a good sleep hygiene for a good sleep
Furthermore, in another TV program later conducted by Dr. Sadeghniiat, more information was shared with public audience and community to increase nation’s awareness about sleep, sleep-wake cycle, and its related diseases. In this video, reporters interviewed people to present a picture of their current knowledge about sleep and its related problems. Following topics were also presented:
• Sleep-wake phase disorders, and shift work as causes of sleepiness
• Normal sleep duration and internal body clock
• Our most drowsy hours during day made by our internal body clock!
• High risk hours for driving and traffic crashes
• Inappropriateness of common methods used by drivers for overcoming sleepiness such as radio, music, and fresh air
• Important role of sufficient sleep and rest in prevention of road traffic accidents

This year, we added another important issue to our activities: teaching high school students about role of a good sleep in promotion of higher grades and performance at school. Good sleep in teenagers is noteworthy to be considered by sleep medicine specialists, parents, school teachers, and teenagers, themselves. Sleep-related issues affecting students’ learning and memory and importance of preserving sleep-wake cycle of body were discussed with invited students and their parents in a high school.

We also shared several topics on website of Occupational Sleep Research Center, affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Dr. Zahra Banafsheh Alemohammad, Dr. Arezu Najafi, occupational and sleep medicine specialists and faculty members of TUMS, our current sleep medicine fellows, Dr. Mashiat Mohammadzadeh, Dr. Alireza Zahabi, Dr. Hassan Eisa, and staff of Baharloo Hospital sleep clinic discussed the role of our sleep-wake cycle in having a productive life.

Location: Tehran, Iran

Date of Activity: March 2018

Submitted by: Dr. Arezu Najafi, Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences