Lifestyle Medicine and Healthy Sleep: Evidence, Roles in Noncommunicable Disease Prevention, and Opportunities for the Thai Health System

Abstract

Sleep is a fundamental component of health and is closely associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the relationships between sleep, health, and NCDs; examine the role of Lifestyle Medicine in promoting healthy sleep; and explore opportunities for integrating sleep health into the Thai health system. A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, together with relevant clinical practice guidelines, academic reports, and publications published between 2004 and 2024. Priority was given to high-quality systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and clinical practice guidelines. Current evidence indicates that approximately 30–35% of adults sleep less than the recommended duration and that inadequate sleep—including insufficient duration, poor sleep quality, circadian misalignment, and sleep disorders—is associated with increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, depression, cognitive decline, and premature mortality. Proposed biological mechanisms include circadian rhythm disruption, alterations in appetite-regulating hormones, insulin resistance, inflammatory and metabolic dysregulation, and excessive sympathetic activation. Lifestyle Medicine interventions, including healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, stress management, sleep hygiene, behavioral counseling, and digital health technologies with wearable devices, can improve sleep health. Integrating sleep assessment and promotion into primary care, NCD clinics, community health services, and appropriate digital health strategies may reduce the burden of chronic diseases, improve quality of life, and promote healthy ageing and healthy longevity among the Thai population.