The importance of sleep is often overlooked in our society, especially as the pace of life gets faster and faster. People think they can get by with late nights and early mornings, or catching up with a few naps.
The reality is that we need to stay healthy whether we are working from home or elsewhere, and having regular quality sleep is a key way to achieve this. This article discusses the positive effects of sleep upon our mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
What Are Sleep And Sleep Loss?
Sleep is what the mind and body need in order to reboot, refresh and heal themselves after a long day of activities. The average person should get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough on a long-term basis are at a higher risk of developing serious health problems as a result.
Some of the most common signs of sleep deprivation are not being able to focus properly, suffering from mood swings, or becoming impatient easily. You might also find yourself feeling dizzy when attempting to stand up.
It Reduces The Risk Of Obesity And Alzheimer’s Disease
A lack of sleep can lead to an increase in appetite because it stimulates ‘hunger hormones’ that often lead to overeating throughout the day or night. Sadly, a lack of sleep makes you more likely to crave high-fat snacks instead of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. One study found that people who slept for less than six hours per night were far likelier to be obese than those who got eight hours.
Another sleep-related disease is Alzheimer’s. It is a common type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. People who sleep poorly are at risk of developing dementia, which can also lead to many other diseases like Parkinson’s and MS (Multiple Sclerosis). There is no cure for these conditions, but scientists are certain that improving sleep quality will help to increase peoples’ life expectancy.
All the health benefits discussed in this article are dependent on people sleeping well – and having a decent bed can be crucial for this purpose. By visiting the internet it’s possible to buy a quality bed frame with a soft and cozy finish, a lifetime warranty, and easy assembly. You can often choose the size online, have a 101-night sleep trial, and access free shipping offers.
It Protects Us From Diabetes And Cancer
Research has shown that sleep deprivation can increase the risk of someone developing type-two Diabetes. Sleep deficiency causes the cells in your body to not respond properly when they are exposed to insulin, resulting in increased blood sugar levels. Over time this could lead to diabetic symptoms such as fatigue, blurred vision, or even nerve damage.
Sleep releases human growth hormones which repair the tissues in the body, and it helps them fight against diseases like cancer. Disorders such as sleep apnea hinder peoples’ oxygen flow during rest time, making them vulnerable to certain types of cancer. Doctors often prescribe continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to people with this disorder. CPAP machines for sleep apnea provide a steady flow of oxygenated air down the user’s airways to keep them open, helping the user breathe easily and sleep soundly.
It Protects Us From Hypertension And Heart Disease
During deep sleep, levels of cortisol (which help regulate blood pressure and stress responses) are elevated while at the same time nitric oxide production increases, causing peoples’ blood vessels to dilate. This results in lower overall systemic vascular resistance. One study reported that people who were deprived of just three consecutive nights’ worth of sleep saw a negative impact upon this process.
Sleep-deprived people have a much higher risk level for cardiovascular disease than those who are well-rested. Sleep deprivation can contribute to atherosclerosis (the narrowing or hardening of arteries). One study concluded that people who slept less than six hours each night had twice as high a chance of having coronary heart disease than individuals sleeping seven to eight hours per night.
It Helps Keep Depression And Anxiety Away
Depression and anxiety are two of the most common mental health problems in western countries today, and sleep deprivation is a massive contributor to both. Sleep relieves the stress levels in your mind and body, allowing you to relax more fully after you wake up again.
Depression causes sleeping problems for many sufferers too, which means they can get caught in a vicious cycle.
It Makes Us More Efficient Mentally
It has been shown in studies that a lack of focus and concentration directly relates to a person’s inability to get high-quality (deep) REM sleep. Sleeping for around seven hours provides optimal brain activity, allowing us to focus on the daily tasks at hand with greater efficiency during our waking hours.
We all know what happens when we do not get enough rest – it often affects every aspect of our lives including relationships, work performance, school grades, or any other task requiring focus and attention.
It Boosts Our Memories
During REM sleep the brain is very active and during this time sleep plays an important role in memory consolidation. Our most vivid dreams happen during REM sleep. Newly acquired memories are thought to be restructured during this period leading up to your next “deep” phase of non-REM sleep.
It’s been shown that people who don’t get enough deep (REM) sleep tend to have a harder time recalling information learned before or after certain intervals. One study showed how poor focus, attention, and memory (resulting from sleep problems) can lead to lower grades among students.
It Helps Us Fight Off Sickness
There is a direct correlation between our immune systems and deep sleep. Our systems need to rest during this phase so that they can produce more immune cells to fight off sicknesses in the morning. If you are getting a good amount of deep sleep each night, your body should stay healthier, and you will have far fewer sick days than someone who is battling insomnia.
As we can now see, there are many health advantages to experiencing quality sleep night after night. Our minds and bodies are safeguarded against illness, and both we and those around us will reap the benefits as a result.
