Modern life can often move so quickly that you hardly have time to stop and relax. It can make having a restful night’s sleep seem like a dream. But much like food and exercise, sleep is crucial for maintaining good health. Your emotions, health, and cognitive function all improve with adequate sleep.
Lack of regular, good-quality sleep increases the chance of developing a variety of illnesses and disorders. These include dementia and obesity as well as heart disease and stroke.
Getting a decent night’s sleep involves more than simply how long you spend in bed. There are three things that constitute healthy sleep: enough hours of sleep, sleep quality, i.e. continuous and undisturbed, and a consistent sleep schedule.
Getting a good night’s sleep might be particularly difficult for people who work the night shift or have unpredictable schedules. Nevertheless, there are so many things you can try to sleep better.
Sleep is not just “down time” during which your tired brain can relax. Your brain remains active while you’re sleeping. Sleep prepares your brain for study, work, and creativity.
The drainage mechanism
The brain even has a drainage mechanism that clears pollutants as you sleep.
For example, studies on mice have shown that the proteins connected to Alzheimer's disease are removed by the drainage system during sleep. During sleep, these poisons were eliminated from the brain twice as quickly.
Reparation and healing
Sleep is a period when the immune system, blood vessels, and other bodily systems heal themselves. Certain repair processes are carried out by the body most often and efficiently while we sleep. These processes speed up if you don't get enough sleep and are interrupted if you don't get enough sleep."
You don’t need less sleep as you get older.
Contrary to popular belief, as people age, they do not require less sleep. Adults above age 18 still require the same amount. As you age, your sleep may become less restful.
You cannot catch up on lost sleep at the weekend
The idea that you may "catch up" on your days off is another sleep fallacy. Most scientists are discovering that this isn't the case.
While you can benefit if you have one lousy night of sleep and take a nap or sleep longer the next night, if you've been getting little sleep for a week, the weekend won't be enough for you to make up lost time. That kind of practice is unhealthy. There is a clear difference between individuals who routinely get insufficient sleep and sleep-deprived individuals who enjoy weekend naps. A lack of sleep resulted in weight growth for both groups of participants. Additionally, their bodies' capacity to regulate blood sugar levels declined. Sleeping in on the weekend didn't help.
Sleeping more is not always a good thing.
On the other hand, Brown claims that getting more sleep isn't necessarily better. Adults should seek medical attention if they are sleeping more than nine hours a night and yet don't feel rested, she says.
Despite their best efforts, some people cannot sleep well enough due to medical issues.
Insomnia
Insomnia is the most typical sleep problem and is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep on a regular basis. Despite having the time and a conducive setting for sleeping, this nevertheless occurs. You can feel worn out or unrested throughout the day as a result.
Short-term insomnia can cause people to have trouble falling or staying asleep for a few weeks or months. Three months or longer indicates long-term insomnia.
Sleep apnea
Another typical sleep issue is sleep apnea. The upper airway becomes clogged when you sleep if you have sleep apnea. Airflow is reduced or stopped as a result, causing nighttime awakenings. The condition could be harmful. It might cause additional health issues if left unchecked.
Sleeping more is not always a good thing.
On the other hand, Brown claims that getting more sleep isn't necessarily better. Adults should seek medical attention if they are sleeping more than nine hours a night and yet don't feel rested, she says.
Consult your healthcare physician if you often experience sleep issues. They might ask you to keep a sleep journal for a few weeks to record your sleep patterns. They can do tests as well, such as sleep studies. These check for sleeping problems.
Hearing how crucial sleep is while you’re having difficulties falling asleep may frustrate you. But doing simple things might increase your chances of getting a good night’s sleep.
There are several common sleep problems that may be treated. Many persons with insomnia might benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy for better sleep. Some people can also benefit from medications.
The use of a CPAP machine is beneficial for many persons with sleep apnea. These devices maintain your airway open so you can breathe. Special mouthguards and lifestyle changes are examples of further therapies.
We should all make sleep a priority as much as we can. Sleep is not a waste of time; it is biologically necessary.
Disclaimer
BahrainHealthMatters.com is for informative purposes only and not a substitute for professional in person expertise.
We advise that anyone having concerns about their health issues should consult their doctor asap.