Doctors in China are urging people to prioritize sleep health, warning that poor sleep is affecting hundreds of millions, as the country marked World Sleep Day on Saturday.

More than 300 million people in China suffer from sleep disorders, with around half requiring medical intervention, according to a report released in March by the China Sleep Research Society.

Experts attribute the problem to a combination of long working hours, job-related stress and modern lifestyle habits. Cultural commentator Xi Rui said anxiety about career prospects, combined with high reliance on coffee, milk tea and smartphones, was significantly cutting into sleep time.

"Sleep plays an irreplaceable role in human health," said Sun Fenghui, director of the neurology department at Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University. He emphasized that quality sleep helps restore the body, regulate hormones, strengthen immunity and clear waste from the brain.

For those with chronic illnesses, the effects are more severe. Zhang Tong, director of the infection department at the hospital said sleep disorders can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and impair cognitive function, potentially leading to irritability, slowed thinking and even dementia.

"For people with HIV, sleep disturbances are more common," Zhang added. Some antiretroviral regimens cause significant central nervous system side effects, making it unfavorable for sleep. In turn, difficulty sleeping is likely to reduce their treatment adherence and even give rise to treatment failure.

Doctors recommend maintaining regular routines and limiting screen use before bedtime to improve sleep quality. For those with chronic conditions, experts advise consulting healthcare providers to adjust treatment if sleep problems persist.