Are you a night owl who spends the night tossing from one side of the bed to another… or are you someone who cannot get out of bed till late morning? Or both?
If this sounds familiar, my dear friend, it’s high time you fix your sleep schedule.
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Sound sleep is an essential bodily function that regulates your mind and body. But at present, the disruptive work environments, food habits, and uncertainty around the world have affected us badly.
There could be several reasons you have a messed-up sleep routine, but we all agree with the fact that, right now, the pandemic should be blamed.
In a study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 95% of the people suffered from insomnia and disturbed sleep during the Covid 19 pandemic.
That’s alarming!
An average adult requires six to nine hours of sleep for better body functioning. If you don’t get enough sleep it might impair your abilities, such as your capactity to concentrate, make informed decisions, etc.
This article will talk about the importance of sleep, the science behind it, and how to fix your messy sleep schedule.
Let’s dig in!
The science behind sleep
Sleep is an essential function that backs your brain function and overall health. Sleep recharges your body, mind and leaves you feeling refreshed and alert. It also helps in keeping diseases at bay.
But have you ever wondered how chronic lack of sleep could turn into a sleep disorder? To understand that, let’s understand the science behind sleep.
Our body has an internal clock that regulates when we sleep and wake up– basically controlling our sleep cycle. The internal body clock is responsible for how long we sleep, and the clock works on a 24-hour cycle known as the circadian rhythm.
Our brain releases a hormone called adenosine and this hormone is linked to your sleep drive. The adenosine levels are increased during the day and break down at night, which helps you to fall asleep at the end of the day.
Wonder how your brain figures out if it’s day or night? Well, there are specific nerves in the hypothalamus, known as suprachiasmatic nerves, which helps the brain decode natural or artificial. When the nerves decode that the natural light has faded away, it releases melatonin that makes you tired. Similarly, when exposed to natural rays, it releases cortisol that radiates energy, making you alert and ready for the day.
Your body gets used to a sleeping pattern, and that’s how your sleep works.
But when your sleeping patterns are altered, the melatonin and cortisol balance is affected. As a result, your brain finds it hard to adjust, causing you to feel dull and unproductive, and provide an opening for diseases. If not treated early, you are likely to develop severe sleep disorders, such as insomnia.
Why do we need to sleep enough?
If you don’t sleep enough, I have bad news for you…
Studies have found that people who do not sleep for at least 6 hours a day suffer from poor attention, restlessness, mood shifts, and difficulty making prompt decisions. Additionally, lack of sleep has been linked to a higher risk of Diabetes 2, Cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and poor mental health.
The pandemic has had a drastic effect on the sleeping patterns of people, especially teenagers. The excessive use of smartphones and devices that emit blue light is one of the leading causes of sleep disorders in the USA population.
It’s time you fix your sleep schedule and walk into 2022 with a healthy lifestyle. Suffice to say, adequate nutrition and a proper lifestyle contribute to a sound sleep.
Here are some of the benefits of a sound sleep:
- Prevents depression
Research conducted by JAMA found that sleep deprivation is linked with suicide and depression. Sound sleep reduces the risk of mental health disorders, especially depression.
- Reduces inflammation
A study found that sound sleep reduces inflammation in the body. The study also stated that sleep deprivation could be the cause of disease. Getting proper sleep can prevent you from having aches in your body.
- It helps you lose weight
A poor sleep regime can affect your desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle and affect your body weight. Although the link between obesity and sleep is not clear, proper sleep can make you energetic to exercise and maintain your body weight.
- It makes you socially and emotionally sound
Sound sleep has been linked to emotional and social intelligence. In a study conducted by the Journal of sleep research, a person’s empathy is directly related to a person’s sleeping habits.
Ways to improve your sleep
It’s better late than never! So, here are a few steps that can help you improve your sleep…
- Expose yourself to bright light during the day
Sounds crazy, right? Well, as discussed earlier, your sleep regime is regulated by circadian rhythm. And a study proved that in people with insomnia, daytime bright light exposure improved sleep quality and duration. It also reduced the time it took to fall asleep by 83%.
- Make a realistic bedtime plan and stick to it every night, even on the weekends
Making a bedtime plan sounds easy. But the challenging part is sticking to it. So, you need to set realistic goals that you can commit to.
- Maintain low light levels in your bedroom and try out scented candles
Aromatherapy works great to help you sleep better. You can use scented candles or room fresheners that can help you fall asleep fast. Maintaining low light in your bedroom and avoiding distraction can help you feel calm and have a sound sleep.
- Do a digital detox or a “screen ban” on televisions, computers and tablets, cell phones, and other electronic devices in your bedroom, especially at night
Night Time exposure to light can affect your circadian rhythm. Your brain might feel that it’s day and can restrict the secretion of melatonin – the hormone responsible for sleep. Suffice to say, the blue lights emitted by smart devices are the worst. So avoid using your phones during the night or use blue-cut lenses to reduce the harm.
- Abstain from caffeine, alcohol, and large meals in the hours leading up to bedtime
Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the USA– consumed by 90% of the population. But excessive caffeine consumption has adverse effects on your sleep and is known to worsen sleep quality.
- Reduce midday or afternoon naps
Power naps or afternoon naps can affect you negatively. Naps during the day confuse your internal body clock and alter the balance. So avoid mid-day naps and go to bed only at night for a sound sleep.
- Take a shower before you jump into bed
Studies indicate that they can help improve overall sleep quality and help people — especially older adults — fall asleep faster. Taking a shower before sleep also soothes your mind. It gives you a cooling environment that enables you to fall asleep fast.
Get your sleep!
Sleep is essential for us, just like the way we breathe.
The rate at which people suffer from sleep disorders is alarming and needs proper attention. So, we must take appropriate steps and fix our schedule.
2022 is right around the corner, let’s thrive on walking into the new year with the hope of working on ourselves.
Cheers!
Suhana Siddika, Clinical Nutritionist
Health Trends Alert
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