‘Don’t make fun of VIPs who fall asleep in public’

We should not find fault or make fun out of VIPs who fall asleep in public, during ceremonies and other such events, because they do not do it intentionally – they could be suffering from sleep apnea, Head of the Toxicology and National Poison Centre at the National Hospital Colombo Dr. Waruna Gunathilaka said.

 Addressing media during a press briefing at the Health Education Bureau in Colombo today he said that such individuals fall asleep even while waiting for traffic lights to change.He said their illness could have a negative impact on their decision-making ability and compel them to make the wrong decisions.

Dr. Gunathilaka said sleep apnea was even cause for obesity.He said the public should not be mislead by television, radio and newspaper advertisements on weight reducing strategies, surgeries or exercise machines because they only reduce fat under the skin, and not the visceral fat inside the body.

Reducing fat under the skin does not reduce the risk of developing Non-Communicable Diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and high blood pressure, Dr. Gunathilaka said.