Why You Need to Make Better Sleep a Priority
Is there anything better than waking up after a great night of restful sleep? The world seems brighter, you have more energy, and your mood signifies a pleasant, fruitful day. You have made sleep a priority!
But all that is out the window with a poor night’s sleep.
While most adults require 7 to 9 hours of sleep, it takes more than mere hours to constitute a good night’s sleep. True, the amount of time you sleep is crucial, but the quality of that sleep is equally important.
Is your sleep uninterrupted? Do you have an established sleep schedule? Learning how to relax your body and calm your mind are essential skills that can help you achieve more restful sleep.
Sleeping Well
A lot of good things take place while you sleep. For instance, during sleep, your brain prepares for a new day of learning, creating, and remembering.
When you sleep, your brain function becomes more kidney-like, removing toxins and waste from your system, like some proteins linked to Alzheimer’s.
Sufficient quality sleep supports virtually every system in your body. Your immune system, blood vessels, nervous system, and more benefit from repair processes, mostly during sleep.
Without enough quality sleep, these critical processes are at risk.
Sleeping Poorly
Poor sleep has significant and far-reaching consequences. Not only does it affect our mood and outlook, but it also hampers our health in many substantial ways. Still, as much as 35% of adults in the US suffer from a lack of sleep.
The Health Risks
Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
Insufficient sleep (fewer than seven hours) poses a 13% increase in the risk of death from heart disease. One analysis showed a 6% increase in the risk of all mortality and heart disease with every hour under seven.
Also, high blood pressure can result from lack of sleep, posing even more significant health risks.
Compared to those sleeping seven hours, people sleeping less than five hours each night face a 61% increase in the risk of developing high blood pressure.
However, sleeping more than nine hours can raise your heart disease and high blood pressure risk.
Type II Diabetes and Obesity
Poor sleep can severely impact your body’s metabolism, substantially increasing your risk of developing type II diabetes and insulin resistance (when your body’s insulin is ineffective). Those experiencing short sleep of fewer than five hours face a 48% increase in the risk of developing type II diabetes. Fewer than six hours increase the risk by 18%.
Mental Health
Depression is a significant result of poor sleep, as is anxiety. Insufficient sleep makes your emotions harder to control, resulting in uncharacteristic outbursts and behaviors.
For sleep-deprived individuals, social interactions are more challenging, and many withdraw from all social dealings.
Their ability to recognize and respond to humor or show empathy is often lacking. Sadly, these individuals are among those most likely to withdraw from society only to experience loneliness.
The Plus Side of Sleeping Well
We have only touched on the many devastating consequences of poor sleep. And while they are daunting, you can quickly eliminate them with proper rest and rejuvenation.
Decrease your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, guard against type II diabetes, maintain a healthy weight, and enjoy a clear mind and more energy.
Summary
Getting enough sleep helps to improve your immune system, memory, cognition, nervous system, mood, outlook, or in a word, life.
Just as there are no wins for lack of sufficient sleep, there are no downsides to getting enough sleep.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by conquering inadequate sleep, whatever the cause.
At Sleep Science Academy, our mission is to show you how to conquer the barriers to a full night’s sleep, including insomnia and other sleep challenges.
Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation and learn more about our unique, proprietary program.
Here is what Margaret has to say about per Sleep Science Academy experience.
Take a look at these videos for more sleep information, its challenges, and how you can achieve adequate sleep to improve your health and quality of life.
How Sleep Can Help You Maintain a Healthy Weight
How Sleep Affects Mental Health
5 Things To Do When You Can’t Sleep, and Your Mind is Racing